Where is your Focus?
By Becky Wyand
Contentment
As we evaluate this school year and look forward to the next, may our goal be to find out what God is doing and participate with Him. So often as we look at a need or choose curriculum we focus on the child and his learning style OR we focus on the parent and his teaching style. Could I challenge you to focus on God and His plan for your family? Let me share these examples:
Your child fails to learn the math concept. Instead of going into panic and trying a multitude of curriculum, you conclude, “God has made him this way and has purpose in how my child learns.” You will continue to instruct and review fully assured that God will reveal the next step.
Your child continues to lie after many spankings and much training. You remain calm and faithful, because you realize what your responsibility is. You will allow God to work in the heart of your child. You will not panic, scream or act confused. You will consistently show your child that you know God and are acting according to your understanding of His standard for you.
Trust
Ps. 118:8 – “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”
Prov. 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
Rev. 4:11 – “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Our God is worthy of our honor. He is powerful and can be fully and completely trusted. Also, as I train my children or develop my schedule I want to remember that the purpose is HIS PLEASURE!
Schedule
Your schedule will work best if you:
Have a quiet, personal time with God each morning.
Have regular prayer times with your husband.
Come before the children as husband and wife united in your approach to work and schedule.
Remain flexible enough to see the need for change or improvement.
Dictation
For the next school year I want to develop with you the teaching method of dictation. As an introduction here consider: What is it? & What can we hope to accomplish by it?
What is it?
Simply calling a sentence and having the child write what you say. You will choose sentences that review grammar and spelling that have been studied.
What can we hope to accomplish by it?
You will be reviewing spelling and grammar. With young children this method can be used instead of a language text.
We will have more on dictation and how to use it at future workshops.
Discipline
Learning how to behave is greatly illustrated and vividly instructed in Proverbs. Very regularly have a Proverb a day. Beginning with your 18 month old, pick up a phrase from Proverbs and begin using it in daily life. Continue to choose a phrase or verse until your child is a free reader and can read a chapter a day for himself. Continue to share what you have learned, make charts, keep a journal and use the study in life’s daily lessons.
Projects
In an effort to avoid overdoing TV and computer games, consider the following activities. These are ideas I’ve compiled from all of you. As you have other good suggestions continue to share them.
- Historical or documentary videos or TV.
- Create with crayons, tape, scissors, paper, cardboard, yarn, cotton, straws, rubber bands.
- Great books – read to self or onto tape.
- Make a doll dress pattern by tracing around the doll. Carry through to the finished dress. May use some tape or glue if needles are not age appropriate.
- Organizing a drawer or closet. Choose some area each week.
- Learn to Sew.
- Learn to garden and can produce.
- Write a computer game that works.
- Model airplanes or buildings.
- Develop a hobby with a purpose.
- Chores – improve, instruct, check.
- Write a family motto, song or poem.
- Become proficient in something and use it to bless other people as flower arranging or bread baking.
- Wood carving.
- Child care at home or where needed.
Make the most of summer by noticing a need and meeting it.