Newsletter #362 - Archived Online. For 32 years The Teaching Home has provided families information, inspiration, and encouragement from a distinctively Christian perspective. Co-Editors: Veteran Home-School Sisters, Sue Welch and Cindy Short |
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Sunnyside Up
Our Littlest Student
A few months ago I was teaching Ivy, our 2nd grader, a science lesson. Our 4-year-old daughter, Holly, was with us, and we were learning about the parts of the eye.
Looking at a picture of an eye, I pointed to the pupil. "Who can tell me what this is called?" I asked.
"Oh, I know," exclaimed Holly. "It's the student!"
Submitted by Cheryl H., Oregon.
Send your humorous anecdote to publisher@teachinghome.com.
Peace with God
1. God loves you.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
2. Man is separated from God by sin.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) For the wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23)
3. The death of Jesus Christ in our place is God's only provision for man's sin.
He (Jesus Christ) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
4. We must personally receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (Eph. 2:8, 9)
God's Word
Immerse your family in God's truth through systematic reading and study of God's Word.
The Teaching Home's
Unique Bible Reading Schedule
Features include:
• Start any month.
• Read 6 days a week
(allows for church on Sunday).
• Read 4 weeks per month
(24 days per month).
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Listen to the Bible Online. Choose from six English versions (plus Spanish and other languages) at BibleGateway.com/Audio.
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In This Issue
Character Development
The home is the ideal place for character training.
It should be a part of every day's lessons.
1. Character Training and Spiritual Growth
2. Teach God's Word
3. Provide Good Examples
4. Teach Character Qualities
5. Discipline Consistently
6. Pray for Your Children
Sidebar
• Character Building Freebies
• List of Character Qualities
Recommended Resources
• Birch Court Books: Character-Building Stories To Read Aloud
• One Year Adventure Novel: High School Writing Curriculum
• Common Sense Press: Language Arts, Science, and Writing
Greetings,
Character development is a process of training outward actions and encouraging spiritual growth resulting in the fruits of the spirit.
The goal is to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ and to be used to draw others to Him, not to earn praise for ourselves.
A child's character is being formed all day, every day, whether or not we notice it.
Joy Marie Dunlap writes:
"The home is the ideal place for teaching character to our children. Character training should be a part of every day's lessons.
"When I first began home schooling, I was chagrined every time a school lesson had to be interrupted for character training. After much prayer, I realized that these character training times were the most important aspect of our children's education. They were not interruptions; they were opportunities!
"This realization changed my whole outlook and enabled me to relax and appreciate the opportunities that I have to correct our children's behavior and train their character."
What your children become is more important than what they learn. This is why many homeschool families consider character training to be more important than academics.
In this issue we offer practical suggestions and specific steps you can take to help your children develop godly character.
Ultimately it is your child's relationship with the Lord, his own choices, and his spiritual maturity that will determine his character.
It is the fruit produced by the Spirit that we desire in the lives of our children, thus the emphasis on God's Word and prayer in the suggestions in this issue.
Much of the information in this newsletter (including the quotes by various homeschool authors) was taken from the Summer 2000 back issue of The Teaching Home print magazine. It contains a 12-page section on Character Training and Social Development and may be ordered online along with 51 other never-out-of-date back issues.
May the Lord richly bless your family for His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a homeschool, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
Biblical Character Training Curriculum
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1. Character Training
and Spiritual Growth
by Cindy Short, Co-Editor
As Christian parents we have a two-fold aim for our children's character:
1. That they would habitually act in a godly way
2. That they would think, feel, and choose godliness from the heart.
There are many things we can and should do to shape our children's behavior; but ultimately it will be their choice to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior that will create new spiritual life within them, thus producing true godliness as the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, meekness, self-control."
Galatians 5:22-23
Our role is to model, teach, train, and encourage the character qualities presented in the Scripture as the moral attributes of God Himself.
The Old Testament Law set the standard of holiness for God's people; so can we set the standard from Scripture for our children.
Jesus' redemptive work and the gift of the Spirit gives believers the power to experience His holiness in their lives.
Since we recognize our dependence on God's power for genuine and sincere righteousness, we will not be content with our children's outward compliance, necessary as that is.
Instead we will diligently, lovingly, and prayerfully labor to inspire our children's whole-hearted dedication to Christ, realizing that only their own free choices will effect real and lasting change in their lives, making them more and more like Him.
2. Teach God's Word
The statement that "the Scriptures are our sole authority for life and practice" is not empty rhetoric. God not only sets the standards for our character in His Word, but also provides the means to meet them.
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
for training in righteousness;
"So that the man of God may be adequate,
equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16-17
Regular Reading and Study of God's Word
To discover and understand the full message of Scripture, systematic reading of the whole Bible is essential.
The Teaching Home has designed a unique schedule for reading the entire Bible in a year. You can start any month and read six days a week (allows for church on Sunday), four weeks per month (24 days per month). This gives you 4-7 days per month, counting the Sundays, to catch up and stay on schedule.
"So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society.
"I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year." – John Quincy Adams
Memorize Scriptures
Memorize, review, and meditate on specific verses or passages related to character qualities.
• The list of character qualities in in the sidebar at left includes relevant Scripture.
• The "Be" verses for young children – "Be kind," "Be obedient," etc. cover many character qualities. See free 39-page e-book from Awana.
Talk About Scripture
in the Context of Daily Living
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your strength.
"And these words which I command you today
shall be in your heart.
"You shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
when you walk by the way,
when you lie down,
and when you rise up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7
The Miller Family Series –
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3. Provide Good Examples
The first and most powerful influence on character is example – both good and bad. Constant vigil must be exercised to uphold good examples and avoid (or point out) the bad.
Parents
The example you yourself set is primary. What an incentive to take God's grace to live for Him and to acknowledge and confess your faults before your watching and impressionable children.
"Work and play together. Time together allows you to find teachable moments when your child's spirit opens to share confidences, ask questions, and seek instruction." - Debbie W. Wilson
Companions
"Do not be deceived:
Bad company corrupts good morals." (I Cor. 15:33).
Your children need to be under your supervision (in both your sight and your hearing) to ensure they are not receiving bad influences.
One home-school mother traces a problem with her daughter that has lasted many years to just one afternoon spent unsupervised with a rebellious girl. Many homeschool families do not allow their children to participate in sleepovers for this reason.
"Look for likeminded friends who will reinforce your standards." - Tammy Allgaier
Examples in Scripture
"God has given us many examples in Scripture, both good and
bad, for our edification and warning. Study Bible characters such as Noah, Joseph, Joshua, David,
or Daniel.
What were their strong character qualities?
How did God honor that behavior?
What were their weaknesses?
What were the consequences?" - Jill Moore
"Starting with Proverbs, we have read one chapter a day. Our boys copied verses from the chapter, sometimes drew pictures to go along with the verses, and memorized many of them.
"Everything that you need to train your children is in the Bible. - Sherri Freeze
Resource. "Christian Ethics for Youth." Topical devotional and study book on Proverbs with illustrations, applications, and workbook.
Examples in Stories and Literature
Read Joy Marie Dunlap's article, "Reading Shapes a Child's Character" online.
Other Influences
The effects of television, video games, books, movies, music, etc., must be monitored. Such activities have the potential to damage a child's spirit.
If parents are not careful, even homeschooling will not tip the scales in favor of godliness. Corrupting influences must be minimized, while godly character is exemplified.
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4. Teach Character Qualities
The first and most powerful influence on character is example – both good and bad. Constant vigil must be exercised to uphold good examples and avoid (or point out) the bad.
Study Character Qualities
You might want to use a textbook, workbook, or curriculum (such as those listed below or in the Building Character Freebies in the sidebar at left), or create your own for teaching character.
• KONOS Curriculum's unit studies are based on character qualities.
• "Kids of Character" Curriculum by Rick and Marilyn Boyer of the Learning Parent.
• "Character Classics with Classical Music," twelve CD and book sets, plus other audio resources from Sing 'n Learn.
Work on Specific Areas
Concentrate work on needed areas as they become apparent in your children's lives.
"Recognize that each child's personality has strengths and weaknesses. Ask God for the wisdom to guide each child." – Debbie W. Wilson
Use a Chart
Use a chart with goals to provide accountability and record success.
"We have successfully used a character star chart for over a decade. When one of our children exhibits outstanding behavior, we enthusiastically reinforce it. We verbally acclaim his act, then write it down next to a star under his name." – Lynette Driggers
Resource. "The Blessing Chart from Doorposts is designed to help you acknowledge and reward godly attitudes and behavior.
Look for Teachable Moments
"Academic work presents numerous opportunities to address such common childish follies as a bad attitude, rebellion, laziness, indifference, procrastination, and poor time management. – Sherri Evans
"Correct your children when you see them exhibiting bad character.
• Ask how Jesus would want them to act.
• Pray with them for help.
• Be quick to praise them when godly character is exhibited." – Jill Moore
"Teach one character quality per week. Explain the definition and give examples that illustrate its meaning in action.
"If the character quality is love, show examples from the Bible of God's love for us and how we should be a reflection of His love.
"Next, give examples of how to show love for family, for friends, for strangers, for enemies, and for God." – Mark DeWitt
"Have each family member keep a character notebook. Your child should write out a definition of the character quality he is working on. Use a thesaurus and find synonyms and antonyms of the character quality.
"Creatively illustrate the character quality. Your child can list or picture ways he can show the character quality to others." – Jill Moore
Three Easy-To-Use, Highly Effective Series –
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5. Discipline Consistently
God has instructed parents to use consistent, loving, and biblical discipline in training their children.
Standards
Set clear and specific standards and explain the moral, Scriptural, and practical reasons for them to your children.
"Discuss reasons for standards so your children understand the importance of them in their lives. This helps children make the standards their own. – Tammy Allgaier
Consequences
Negative consequences (both physical and nonphysical) for noncompliance and positive rewards for obedience and cooperation are appropriate; God offers us similar incentives.
"For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines.
God deals with you as with sons;
"For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?"
Hebrews 12:6-7
"Win your child's heart with demonstrated affection. Temper affection with prompt, consistent, reasonable discipline.
"It is easy to ignore your child's good attitudes and actions while promptly criticizing the bad. Rebuking your child's faults without commending his virtues discourages him.
"Discipline, positive or negative, should be prompt. Handling misbehavior immediately promotes peace in the home.
"Consistency teaches your child his limits. If you want consistency in your children's character, you must be consistent in your expectations.
"Punishment or reward should fit your child's actions." – Debbie W. Wilson
"Discuss the natural consequences of sin. We can use the Bible and situations around us to explain to our children that sin has painful results. – Debbie W. Wilson
Resource. "For Instruction in Righteousness" from Doorposts contains hundreds of Bible verses organized according to 52 common types of misbehavior with suggested negative and positive consequences, object lessons, and illustrations drawn from Scripture.
6. Pray for Your Children
In this important area of character, we must pray for our children, for their specific needs, and for wisdom and strength to teach and train them.
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all generously and without reproach,
and it will be given to him."
James 1:5
• Pray with your child when he has failed in some area for forgiveness and strength to do better next time.
• Pray about any specific problem that your child is struggling with at the moment.
• Teach your child to pray for strength and the way to escape when faced with a temptation.
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man;
"And God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,
"But with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."
I Corinthians 10:13
• Pray as a family that you would all become more like the Lord Jesus, not for personal praise and recognition, but for the purpose of pleasing Him and winning others to Him.
