Easy Writing Exercise Number 5

One of the marks of the truly educated person is not that they can spout off random facts and memorize details, it is that they are able to see the links between areas of knowledge. All knowledge is connected, each discipline we study adds understanding to other related disciplines. The study of philosophy can bring clarity to art or history. Grasping mathematical concepts aids us in understanding science and the world we live in.

In school we are often taught to think in terms of… Algebra, Biology, English Lit etc…and it can seem each class is an entity unto itself. That is a false view of the world however and we should rejoice each time we see our child make a connection between disciplines. It is being able to recognize and develop these connections that leads to progress and gives us fresh insights into problems that have stumped us.

That is the big picture. Working with metaphors is a small, manageable exercise in making connections between unrelated subjects. When we spend time working with words and making up new combinations it helps us to think outside the box, to let our imaginations run a bit and find a fresh perspective. So, while we may do these exercises to help our children develop into better writers, there is a larger goal being worked on here. We are also helping our children pay attention and notice connections. In the words of J.D. Casnig, “The Metaphor reminds us that the universe is full of cousins.”

Okay, enough of that, let’s move on to the exercise. (If you haven’t read Easy Writing Exercise Number 4, you need to back up and read that first, it is foundational for the exercise that follows.)

When we did exercise Number 4 we were writing metaphors that were phrases or sentences. In this exercise I would like to challenge your student in two ways.

First, if you have begun to keep a notebook of metaphors, or if you have a list of some metaphors that you have spotted during your hunting in Exercise 4 I want you to go back over that list and highlight those metaphors that are a bit tired from overuse. For instance, a knife in the back, might have been quite clever when first written but now it is a cliche. Once you have identified those make a pact that you will avoid using them for the next 3 months in your writing, instead try to come up with some new fresh metaphors of your own. Revisit Exercise 4, only this time make your list with more intentionality. Look at your list of overused metaphors, identify what is being communicated, and then see if you can come up with a new, fresh metaphor that would work better.

Second, try developing a metaphor through an entire paragraph rather than just a phrase as we did earlier. There are times when a metaphor brings clarity to a difficult subject and it is beneficial to develop it a bit further. In the following lines from Shakespeare we see him comparing our lives to a drama being enacted upon a stage.

“All the World’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances.

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,”

(William Shakespeare, As You Like It. Act 2, Scene 7)

As you can see it would be possible to continue to play with this metaphor for awhile. If you have children who love sports that is an easy place to begin. Compare their life, friendships, or family to their favorite sport or team. A child with a perennially messy room may want to use that to illustrate some other facet of their life. Growing a garden, riding a bike, or doing the laundry could all be used for an extended exercise.

A word of warning to the Type A personalities out there. I would resist getting hung up on whether or not your child is mixing metaphors, simile’s, comparisons, or idioms. Yes, there are differences, and depending on the age of your child you may want to go into them, however, the point of this exercise is to improve their writing by using a new tool. In exercising that tool they may cross a few lines not sticking strictly to the narrow definition of a metaphor, let it go for now. If they are using comparisons to bring clarity and creativity to their writing we’ll call it a success.  (Of course if they are actually using a mixed metaphor you may want to point that out, and if you have no idea what I’m talking about…don’t worry about it.)

Play Dough

Play dough is a favorite of kids and making your own is inexpensive and fun. My boys not only enjoyed playing with this play dough, but also enjoyed helping make it.

This method requires cooking and makes a nice smooth dough. At first it will seem to be a mess, but keep the heat low and continue to stir till it comes together. Once the dough starts to come together it will go quickly so be careful, you don’t want to burn it. (You can also microwave the dough for about 5 minutes. I haven’t had as much luck with the microwave.)

Mix in a saucepan 2 cups water, 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 4 Tablespoons vegetable oil (not olive oil, first it’s expensive, second the smell is pretty strong) 4 teaspoons Cream of Tartar, Food coloring, and if you like a drop of scented oil.

Once everything is mixed turn on a low heat and heat the ingredients through, stirring continually.

After the dough has come together dump it on a floured surface and knead for a few minutes. Kids like to help at this stage, just be sure the dough isn’t too hot.

You’re ready to go, get out the rolling pins, cookie cutters, and garlic press. My kids loved using the garlic press to make hair for their creations. When your done, just pop in a ziplock and store in the fridge.

Why Teach Shakespeare?

In preparation for my class this year on Shakespeare (one of my favorites to teach) I’ve been doing some reading. One book that has been helpful in practical ways in organizing my lessons is Teaching Shakespeare, by Rex Gibson. Here is a summary on why we should continue to teach Shakespeare, even to young students. Much of the following is taken directly from the book, in some places I’ve just altered it enough to connect the ideas. If you want some creative and practical help with this topic you really should consider this book. (My class will have students from 4th grade thru high school all working together, it works surprisingly well and each time I teach it I’m surprised by the insights of some of the younger kids and that they will argue their position with students much older than they are.

The first reason to continue to teach Shakespeare is that
Shakespeare deals with familiar and abiding concerns. Shakespeare’s characters, stories and themes have been, and still are, a source of meaning and significance for every generation. For example, students will find the discussions between Juliet and her controlling father recognisable and familiar, and an excellent spur to discussing parent child relationships. In all of his plays the emotions expressed reach across the centuries; love, hate, awe, tenderness, anger, despair, jealousy, contempt, fear, courage, wonder. The plays raise questions of morality, politics, war, wealth, and death. Many of the plays explore the gap that exists between public appearance and private practice…a problem that is just as relevant today. As characters struggle with the interconnections between the individual and society students are forced to question their own moral choices and how much they, personally, are affected by our societal values, and our American culture.

Secondly, to study Shakespeare is to acquire all kinds of knowledge, not just the knowledge of the plot of another play. It might be an increased vocabulary, or an understanding of the Elizabethan stage. The Tempest can motivate students to research the colonisation of the Americas , or the growth of Renaissance science and literature. The history and Roman plays offer opportunities for developing different kinds of historical understanding.

Studying Shakespeare also allows an addition to knowledge as students explore human feelings in ways that give mental, physical and emotional realese, but in the safe condition of a classroom. Enacting Shakespeare can help students generate self-confidence and learn to confront and control their own emotions. It can lead to greater understanding and empathy. To express it less prosaically, Shakespeare develops the understanding of the heart.

Third, Shakespeare uses many different styles of language and plays all kinds of language games. His language provides students with rich models for study, imitation, and expressive personal re-creation. Shakespeare was fascinated by language and constantly explored and stretched it’s power and limitations. As students come to grips with the language in active explorations, they gain insight into the power of language and become enfranchised as readers, writers, speakers, listeners, and actors.

Fourth, and my personal favorite, education is about ‘opening doors’. It is concerned that individuals should not be imprisoned in a single point of view, confined solely to local knowledge and beliefs. Education shows that ‘there is a world elsewhere’ beyond the familiar and everyday. Shakespeare invites students to develop a deep acquaintance with those characters, to experience their extremes of emotion, to imaginatively inhabit their remote worlds, and to learn from those close encounters with otherness.

Every student is entitled to make the acquaintance of genius. Shakespeare remains a genius of outstanding significance in the development of English language, literature and drama. All students should have opportunities through practical experience, to make up their own minds about what Shakespeare might hold for them.

So Your Kids Want to Play Sports……

There are some subjects that homeschoolers face with a certain amount of fear and trepidation. Maybe you struggle with teaching math or languages. Whatever it is, help is out there. The homeschooling movement has been around long enough now that curriculum’s have been developed and adapted to accommodate the parent teacher. There is one area, though, that is required and is easy to ignore, Physical Education. We are required by law to do 20 minutes of PE a day. There are many options out there..from video tapes to classes to playing in sports leagues. We are fortunate this year at Grace Prep that we will have Kim Smith offering some P.E. Classes. What I want to address here are the issues you face if you want your child to get involved in organized sports.

At the beginning of soccer and baseball season I generally get a few questions about what I think about putting kids into organized sports. Parents have legitimate concerns, from over-enthusiastic parents to out of control coaches.

In our family, we do sports. The boys have played in organized soccer, baseball, and basketball leagues. Steve has coached, managed, and served on boards, written coaching manuals…well, you get the idea. There are some important things you need to keep in mind if you want your child to benefit from participating in sports…and just about every other kids activity that involves competition.

GET A REALITY CHECK. More than likely your child is not going to be a professional athlete. Chances are they won’t even get a college scholarship. The expectation that a child should succeed to that level is pressure no five, eight or ten year old needs. Not to mention that at five, eight or ten years of age, you can’t pick out future major leaguers, so relax. (And even if you do have a truly gifted child, you still want them to love the game. Expectations can suck the joy right out of what should be a a great memory of childhood.)

BE INVOLVED. First, you need to know who your child’s coaches are and how they run things. Second, all the sports leagues are run by volunteers and they need help. If you sign your child up to play in one of the leagues (or go to 4H, CYT, or other youth activity) be prepared to volunteer some hours. It’s only fair.

BE POSITIVE. a) When you are on the sidelines keep all of your comments positive. If there is a bad call, leave it to the coach to handle. Besides being a positive role model for both your child and other parents, it makes no sense to get the umpire mad at your team. b) Be positive with your child. Praise their efforts. Believe me, they already know if they have blown a play. They don’t need you to point it out. c) Be positive with your child’s coach. Again, let me point out that these are busy people volunteering their time for your child’s benefit, often with very little thanks. They deserve your support.

PERFECT ISN’T PERFECT. Most parents think that the ideal would be to have their child placed on a great team that went through the season without a loss. Not necessarily. Let’s go back to square one…character. We want to develop character in our children. Most of the time character is developed in hard circumstances like loosing a game, striking out, dropping a fly ball or missing a goal. It’s in these circumstances that our children learn humility, how to receive instruction, and how to control their temper. An equally important lesson is when a teammate strikes out at a critical juncture of a game. Here our children have the opportunity to show empathy and offer a word of encouragement. This is where our children begin to learn what it is to be a part of a team. These are good lessons for future spouses and parents. For our part as parents, we need to walk the fine line between wanting our children to try hard and do their best, and accepting the inevitable failures that come with playing a sport. Be prepared to keep a lid on your emotions.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING. Lindsey Davenport was a world tennis champion. The really big news about her is that she has no entourage, no limo, and no attitude. In an interview she was asked if she ever had a tantrum on the court. She said, once when she was 11 or 12, she threw her racket down at a championship match. Her father took her rackets, locked them in the trunk of his car, and told her she was through with tennis. In spite of her obvious talent, he was more concerned with her attitude, her character. It paid off. After she and her mother convinced him to give her another chance, she never again behaved that way on the court. All our children should know the same thing. While we can’t always expect our children to make the right play, we can expect them to demonstrate the right attitude. When they don’t, we need to take immediate action. This is obviously more important than any game.

BE FLEXIBLE. All of our children need to be active, but they may not have a love for competitive sports. Try to find something that holds their interest, whether it be swimming, dance, karate of horseback riding. Don’t give up. The benefits of developing regular exercise into their lives will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Lastly, on a side note, my sons have found that their ability to play soccer has been an invaluable tool on the mission field, both in Africa and Mexico. If you have a soccer ball…language is not a barrier. Food for Thought when choosing a sport.

Teaching About God Part 1

I’m going to be doing this post in a couple of parts as I’m still working on it.

I’m often asked how we communicated to our boys our Christian beliefs. Did we have a particular Bible curriculum we used? Did we use all Christian textbooks? Did we have daily devotions?

In some ways our methods were very simple, but not necessarily easy. I will offer some suggestions here, but before you use these or go looking for curriculum, you need to do first things first. ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then all these things will be added unto you.’

The first, and most important step is that you pray, seek God, and examine your own life and beliefs. Skipping over this foundational step, making sure your relationship with God is real and growing, undermines anything you might have to say to your children. Our children live with us. For better or worse, we are their first glimpse of a Heavenly Father. They know, even if others don’t, if the faith we profess is still in evidence behind closed doors. They will note, at first with confusion, and later with contempt if we make much ado about our faith in public and then are angry, judgmental and critical at home. Our children do not need to see us as perfect examples, then they wouldn’t know how to deal with the struggles and temptations that will inevitably come. But they do need to see us dealing with our lives with integrity, asking for forgiveness when we fail, and continuing our journey in faith. So as tempting as it is to want to jump ahead and buy that perfect curriculum that will instill all the right values in our children, or find the perfect church/youth group to see to it that they have only the best in Christian friends…none of that will have the influence on your child that watching you will. So determine now to look to your own spiritual well being and to live an authentic faith for your children.

Secondly, since parents are in parenting mode, disciplining and training their children 24/7, it is often too easy to communicate that Christianity is ‘not doing this and not doing that’. If we want our children to be drawn into a personal relationship with God we need to have more to offer them than a rulebook. Christianity, as Christ lived it, is endlessly appealing. It offers a safe place to unload our burdens, to be real, to find healing and rest. There is joy, real solid joy, in the Christian life. There is laughter and fellowship and fun. Is this what your children think of when they think of living a Christian life? Or do they think of a list of rules…have they heard you say, (I pray not) ‘what will people at church think?’. Of course we teach our children how to behave, we have a spiritual and moral obligation to do so, but if we stop there we have only made half the journey. In a sense, we have stopped in the Old Testament only giving our children the law. The New Testament offers more, it offers Christ. It offers a way to deal with the law that brings peace, healing, and forgiveness. We now have the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit is…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control…these fruits will draw our children toward the heart of God. So be sure that in your home your children are seeing the joy and fun of living a life of faith.

Thirdly, God’s plan, sometimes a baffling plan I admit, has been to work through the church. From the beginning in Acts, God has shown that He planned to spread the Good News through His church. He has called the church His bride. Steve and I have felt involvement in church is a critical part of our children’s journey in faith. Church life, just like family life, is a mixed bag. Some parts of it are wonderful. Much of the fun and joy of the Christian life my children have experienced, has been either at church, or with other families from the church. Messages received there, from others, has reinforced what they have been learning at home. Opportunities to serve in Sunday School, VBS, or in their Youth Groups has given them places to find and use their gifts. Unfortunately churches are made up of people who have not been totally perfected in Christ yet, and not all church experiences are positive. My children (and Steve and I) have been hurt, sometimes deeply, by the words and actions of others at church. How we deal with that is also a powerful, pivotal learning moment for our children. Do they see us living with truth and integrity, not denying our hurt, but not holding onto and feeding it either? Do they see us forgiving, loving, and moving past? Do we withdraw from the church when times are tough….is that what Christ would have us do? These are real and sometimes painful questions and moments in everyones life, and how we deal with them will shape our children. For me, I want my children to be committed to church life. During the tough times I pray that their character and faith will be refined and strengthened, and during the good times I pray they find fellowship, fun, and lasting friendships, during all of it I pray they have a place to come worship, learn, and serve.

Classes, Sports, Theatre….How Much is Too Much????

Every year, you as parents and teachers, are faced with an ever increasing number of options for your students. Curriculum, Friday classes, soccer, CYT, Youth Theatre, baseball etc. How do you decide?

First, recognize that you can’t do it all. Each of us has time limitations, money considerations, and other work, family, and church commitments to fit in. Be realistic. The addition of outside learning can be a fantastic addition to your homeschool day bringing you a break, both during the time of the class and in terms of preparing that subject…but too many outside commitments can compromise what you are trying to accomplish.

Second, evaluate your goals for your child. What are trying to accomplish? Will this activity aid you in that journey? How old is your child? My suggestion would be the younger they are the more carefully you consider the number of outside activities you involve them in. A seven year old should not have a schedule that rivals an overworked middle-aged executive. They should have hours of free play time to build cities in the mud and curl up with books. Children need time, time to be loved, time to explore, time to play. A hectic schedule robs them of some of these most precious years. There will be plenty of time later on to involve them in outside activities, they don’t need to ‘do it all’ in kindergarten.

Every family is going to look different, you all have different commitments and different needs. For us the boys were always heavily involved in family, not just our immediate family, but we have a large extended family that we spent a lot of time with. They were always involved with church, in Sunday School, mid week activities, and special events. To us, these were the center, other things would have to fit around these two. As they got older we added some sports, then music lessons. They still had plenty of free time during the day.

By high school things had changed. High school students are beginning to become independent, they want to try things outside of home, spend time with friends. My boys love having a packed schedule and knowing that they will be jumping from one activity to the next. (You still need to keep from going overboard…but things change.) Time with family and at church remained constant, but they were eager to expand their horizons. I found it healthy for them to develop varied interests and to keep their minds and bodies productively occupied.

I had a couple of criteria I would look at before deciding if we should participate in an activity. I’ve listed them in no particular order.

Criteria One: Is this something my child will miss out on by not being in school. There are things that happen at school that you cannot duplicate at home with just you and your children…like competitive sports. My boys wanted to play sports so we found ways to add those into our school year. Figure out what things YOUR child might miss by not being in school, evaluate if that is a good thing or not, and then look for other ways to provide that experience.

Criteria Two: Is this something I’m not qualified to teach? I am not musical, all my children are…so I paid for music lessons. It was worth it. We try in our Friday classes to provide those subjects that parents might not want to do on their own, like Latin, Art History or Biology. For me, it was worth it to have someone else help out with those subjects I was tentative about. (Please note that I truly believe that with all of the curriculum choices available to homeschool parents now, if you are willing to put in the time and effort you can teach any subject you want on your own. You need to evaluate whether or not the trade off in having someone else do it is worth it.)

Criteria Three: Is this a subject that is better learned in a group setting? Over the years I’ve been doing the Friday classes I’ve discovered several things. First, some classes like Shakespeare, are just more fun to do in a group where you can act out the plays. Second, I’ve found that in classes like Chemistry or Latin that are especially challenging, students benefit from having others to commiserate (grumble) with. It seems to make the struggle more bearable.

Criteria Four: Will participation in this class/activity provide my children with healthy socialization, a chance to make friends and create positive feelings about homeschooling? While I believe that the non-homeschooling world is far too concerned about the socialization of homeschooled students, (research has shown repeatedly that homeschool children have enhanced social skills) we still want our children to have places to interact with age-mates and make friends. In particular, children who are transferring from a traditional school setting to homeschool are concerned about when they will be able to see friends. Knowing that each week they will be in classes, sports, and activities where they will see other children makes them less resistant to the change, and provides times each week to look forward too. (Conveniently, it also provides an answer to those relatives who are concerned about your child’s lack of ‘socialization’.)

Criteria Five: Does this activity move me toward my goals for my child, or way from them? Does this activity reinforce what we are trying to accomplish? I had written intentional goals for each of my sons and when it came to choosing between activities we always tried to choose those activities that reinforced what we were teaching them ourselves. With such a variety of good choices in front of us you need a way to weed through all the good and find the best. The ‘best’ for your child and your family will probably not be what is ‘best’ for someone else.

To sum it up, we found that adding outside activities was a crucial and fun part of our homeschooling experience adding a depth and breadth to our years that we would have missed without them. We also found that saying ‘yes’ to everything quickly led to frustration and stress. So while we wish to present you with many choices for the coming school year, and we hope you participate in many of those choices so that you have a rich, productive year…keep in mind that each day only has 24 hours and you don’t need to (and shouldn’t) fill each and every one of them.