Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

God’s Word  warns us not to be surprised by trials, hardships and the difficulties of this life, but to rejoice in the fact that we suffer on Christ’s behalf…and all this so that on the day that we stand before His throne, we can be filled with joy at His glorious revelation to the world (1 Peter 4:12-13)

“Like the storm on Galilee, it matters little what we do, only what He will do. By keeping our eyes on him we can be free of fear or anxiety no matter what we might encounter in this life. “~Wayne Jacobsen

Suffering is a teacher.  We can teach our children by example that God is with us every moment of every day and the fruit will be joy, peace, and happiness.

Heart of Wisdom has been nominated for the Best Homeschool Methods Blog Award.

Would you please take a moment to vote for Heart of Wisdom?

You can cast your vote from now until November 21st!!

Click each link below to vote for a nominee in that category:

1. Best Homeschool Mom Blog
2. Best Homeschool Dad Blog
3. Best Blog Design
4. Best Photos and Artistic Content Blog
5. Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog
6. Best Family or Group Blog
7. Best Encourager
8. Best “Live-What-You-Believe” Homeschool Blog
9. Best Unschooling Blog
10. Best Eclectic Homeschooling
11. Best Geographical Blog
12. Best Current Events, Opinions or Politics Blog
13. Best Homemaking or Recipes Blog
14. Best Teen Girl Blog
15. Best Teen Guy Blog
16. Best Teen Group Blog
17. Funniest Homeschool Blog
18. Best Cyber-Buddy Blogger
19. Best Curriculum or Business Blog
20. Best Variety
21. Best Thrifty Homeschooler
22. Best SUPER-HOMESCHOOLER
23. Best Nitty-Gritty Homeschool Blog
24. Best NEW Homeschool Blog
25. Best Homeschooling Methods Blog

For more info about the meme read Michelle’s Instant Challenge post.

We missed the first week challenge but it looked like fun.  In the middle of school work I told the boys about this  challenge.

Do not do what I did: I did not want to run to the computer so I gave my boys the challenge  assignment from memory (mom needs to learn to follow directions).

My boys assignment (not the original directions)  was to each make a bridge with ends 8 inches apart.  Once the bridge was standing they were to try to add weight (pennies). Our goal was ten pennies.

Both boys made a bridge. One held 5 pennies before collapsing. The other held all ten. It was a lot of fun!

When we were done I looked up the directions. Duh. It should have been a team work, timed project.  I missed the opportunity to get the boys to work together.

I will read follwow directions next time.

Click here for this week’s Boat Race  Challenge

A coloring page goes on the front of the folder. Inside is a game board and two pockets. One pocket is for game pieces, the other is for Bible memory verses.

I found this game board at EbibleTeacher.com and adapted it.

Game Cards with questions.

This is a Bible Trading Card from EBibleTeacher.com They are free to print out (you can also purchase them).

We are using all the cards in another lapbook dividing stories into the 12 Bible history eras. I’ll post directions when we complete  it– if  the comment reveal an  interest.

This is meant to be the back of the card. I LOVE these cards! They really help the children get a grasp of when the story took place.  Click here to learn more about the  symbols.

Download the Lapbook Printables

1. Coloring Page Cover(BW)
2. Game board (color)
3. Game cards (color)
4. Pocket for game pieces (color)
5. Pocket for memory verses and Bible Trading Card (color)
6. Memory Verses (color)
7. Blank Cards (write your own verses)
8. Bible Trading Card (external link)

Black and White  Printables (for coloring)

1. Game Board BW
2. Pocket for game cards BW
3. Pocket for Bible verses BW

To complete the game you need dice and game pieces. I used color form circles (trace around a penny and cut out). If the child lands on a positive number they go ahead that number of spaces. If they land on a negative number they go back that number of spaces.

Laminating Directions for Bible Trading Cards

I laminate the Bible Trading Cards  because we are using them in another project plus it keeps the back and front together like a regular trading card.

Cut the cards out and tape front and back together with double sided tape in the middle.  Run through the laminating machine using a 4×6″ laminating pouch. NOTE: Do not run the whole whole 8.5×11 sheet of card through the laminator — the front and back  won’t stick when cut.

This YouTube video was made from a Bible story film strips made by the Moody Bible Institute, circa 1955 (as old as me!)

Would you like more free lapbooks? Just let me know in the comments.

“Ask and ye shall receive” But you have to let me know.

Seed sowing is my  my passion! I want fruit in my life and fruit in my children’s life. . I want to sow seeds and encourage others to sow seeds.

Light is sown like seed for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart. Psalm 97:11a

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.  Psalms 126:5-6

He Who has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear

As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn’t have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.

“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”

His disciples asked, “Why did you tell this story?”

He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it:

Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing,
Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing.

“This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved.

“The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone.

“And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.

“But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.”

Luke 8:4-15 (The Message)

Want fruit? Sow Seed!

“…good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.”

Jewish culture and the Jewish people have succeeded–thrived even–for more than four thousand years under both good and unthinkable circumstances. Breaking the Jewish Code helps readers unlock the amazing secrets to this success.

From the Inside Flap

“You too can discover the hidden secrets that have molded Jewish thinking and lifestyles and made the Jews an undefeatable people, a blessed ethnic group, and a nation that survives against all odds.” –Perry Stone

Recognized for his Hebraic teaching, Perry Stone spent hundreds of hours preparing this 236-page eye-opening book, with information seldom taught or known among Christians.

You will learn:

• The Hebrew secrets to raising and training children, by following God’s five established life cycles.
• Seven things parents can do to bless their children, including selecting a prophetic name for them, and the Jewish prayer you can pray over your children for protection and blessing!
• How to mark your house with God’s Word, the four promises for a barren woman, and the Biblical secrets of breaking infertility and giving birth.
• How the 7 foods in the Holy Land are keys to health, why eating Kosher is better for you
• Advice and wisdom principles about wealth from history’s wealthiest Hebrew – including Perry’s personal insight and commentary of what wealthy believers have taught him.
• Discover the 3 investments God instructed ancient Israel to invest in.
• Learn about coded messages in the Hebrew Alphabet, Jewish Feast cycles, Sabbath secrets, special meals, and the Jewish procedure and methods used when dedicating a newborn infant to God.
• How Hebrew prophecy has influenced world leader’s decisions, and the four levels of growing a family tree.
• Learn how a single mother and widow can impart blessing to her children when a man is not in the home –
• and much, much more.

Each chapter concludes with, “What God knew, what the Jews know, and what Christians should know,” revealing how to apply the content, practically, for your personal life! This 236-page book includes sections with special charts, Hebrew letters, and lists Biblical names and their meanings for naming children. 9781599794679

NOTE: Click Ctrl and your plus sign (+) to enlarge your screen to see sample pages below larger.

Hardcover Retail 21.99 Our Price $18.99

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In the Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach I suggest families use my approach  like a recipe- adapting to their family’s taste. I think the same workes for the Workbox System.

My favorite part is how the Workbox System works is how it helps the children understand where we are in the school day and how much time is left. No more frustrating “Are we done yet?”

I never realized how frustrating it must be form them not knowing if the school day was going to be one or four hours. Public school children know how long their day will be. Knowing what is expected–getting expectations up front is an important leadership quality (See the The One Minute Manager) necessary for good morale and productivity.

My  set up is temporary. I’m waiting for my parents to bring me drawers from IKEA next month (IKEA won’t ship them). So for now we are using plastic drawers I had on hand and a scrapbook storage cart.

We labeled the boxes with foam soccer and footballs numbers.

I don’t use the “Work with Mom” labels because the majority of our school day is spent together reading aloud, copywork, narration, or lapbooking together.  Some things can be done independently such as phonics, math, computer.

Schedule (not all shown in photos)

1. Bible Reading/ Bible verses (Handwriting)
2. Bible lapbook
3. Snacktime/ Flashcards
4. Homophone game
5. Phonics flip chart/ Phonic Worksheets
6. David read aloud/Christopher read aloud
7. 20 minutes on trampoline
8. Computer time- spelling
9. Listen to Abraham Lincoln story, add Abe to timeline, copywork from biography
10. Lunch
11. Write a letter to army guy in our church.
12. Shut the Box (math game) appropriate for the last workbox

Here they are prompted to for prayer and Bible time with Mom.  Bible verses for handwriting practice.

Bible verses for handwriting – I make these available to you too. Click here.

Books of the Bible Lapbook

Next box includes phonic flip chart and worksheets.

Next is math practice.

Reading centers are available when I am busy with one child.

The next box just had an index card that said “Civil War unit with mom” Which refered us to the history box. I keep all my unit study materials together in one box. It is easier to refer to the box than unload part of it into their boxes.

This is our science box but they did not have a science time today.

Click here to read Benefits and Overview of  Workbox System

Join in the monthly Workbox Meme

Are you using workboxes? Have you heard about them?  Did you make any changes since your setup? What’s your favorite thing about this system? Answer in the comments.

Several weeks later he was sitting on a kitchen stool watching me cook dinner. “Mommy, can I have some juice?” I said, “Yes, just a minute.” and continued my cooking. He asked again. I said “Just a minute.” He asked again.

I said sternly, “Christopher, you are too impatient!” He said, “I’m not being impatient, I’m being perseverant. He stopped me dead in my tracks. “Yes, you are Honey, yes you are,” I giggled. I poured his glass of juice.

Perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

I have homeschooled for over 20 years. There are days I wake up and groan at the thought of another school day,  more laundry, more dishes, more floors to sweep, more noses to wipe, phonics and math problems to drill, etc.  Then I usually repent and say my morning prayer:

Father,

What would you have me do today?

What what you have me say?

Show me what to teach your children.

Lead me and guide me in your ways.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

God gives me the strength to get out of bed with a purpose to persevere and reminds me:

1. If I  acknowledge Him in all my ways, He will direct my paths. (Pro 3:6)
2. If I seek first the kingdom of God and all other thing will be given to me. (Mat 6:33)
3. If I delight myself in the Lord and He will give me the desires of my heart.(Ps 37:4)
4. If I  trust God, He will turn our trials into something for good  a( Romans 8:28).

God knows our weaknesses and promises to strengthen us  by His power (1 Corinthians 10:13). When we have a good school day its because of Him. When we have a bad school guess who is to blame?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Am I saying homeschooling a testing of your faith? Ask a mother correcting the “saw” as “was” for the 89th time. If we were all open we would admit there are times we want to flag down the big yellow bus and get a 7-8 hour reprive like the other mothers in the neighborhood.

Homeschooling is a blessing and a test of our faith. Homeschooling develops perseverance.

Living a Christian life forces us to persevere through trials. God said His grace is sufficient in every situation. When we understand His love for us, we d can rise above discouragement.

Job’s greatest blessing was not the regaining of his health and wealth or the rebuilding of his family and circle of friends. His greatest blessing was understanding God working in a deeper way and growing intamatly closer to Him!  (James 5:11)

My veterinarian’s wife had breast cancer. She is remission now. They have very small children. She refers to her cancer a “the blessing.” Tests and trails are changes into deeper intimacy and greater faith.

WHAT A TERRIFIC BLESSING! This is reason enough to homeschool.

Do not confuse perseverance with working your way to righteousness. There is only way way to receive the righteousness needed to stand before aour holy God–by trading our sin’s payment  for  His holy Son’s righteousness.

God Promises Us Strength

God gives us the strength to persevere. When we ask Him, His Holy Spirit flows through us a supernatural power so we might endure (Acts 1:8).  Then we can soflty correct the word “saw” for “was the 90th, 91st, and 202nd time.

If I didn’t have the responsibility of homeschooling I don’t know if I would be in the Word daily. If I wans’t in the Word I wouldn’t be growing closer to God.

I know my strength comes from the Lord, because I ran out of my strength the first week of homeschooling. Obedience and perseverance in God’s ways are proof of our conversion –proof we are overcoming our sin nature through Christ.

Once we are saved, we exchange our weakness for His power (2 Cor. 12:1–10). As we wait on God, He enables us to fly abouve our circumstances (think Super Mom) .

Homeschool has developed in me a need to put God first. I have a lot to do and a limited amout of time to do it. I must preserve for treasures in Heaven I don’t have time for treasures t on the earth.

Whenever you feel things are tough, put things in perspective by comparing your situation with Christ’s last days on earth. He withstood real trials.

One cannot accomplish everything by perseverance, but very little can be accomplished without it. It is the Christian, who keeps on running “with perseverance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1), who finishes the race.

Remember, perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

WOW!  My children have stopped complaining about school and we are getting twice the amount of work accomplished. This system is a godsend.  I love it!

This exciting organization system structures your homeschool day in bite size chunks.

My favorite part is how this setup  helps the children understand where we are in the school day and how much time is left.  No more frustrating  ”Are we done yet?” I never realized how frustrating it must be form them not knowing if the school day was going to be one or four hours. Public school children know how long their day will be.  Knowing what is expected–getting expectations up front is an important leadership quality (See the The One Minute Manager ) necessary for good morale and productivity.

I’ve always used a box system, of sorts,  many years before the term Workbox became popular. I keep worksheet and workbook assignments in one crate and boxes of history and science unit study books in other crates.

When I read about Sue’s Workbox System I immediately saw several  benefits over the system I was using.

How Workboxes Work: An Overview

• Create the structure with a rack or shelves for each child filled with  set of workboxes (from 6 to 12 depending on your preference)
• You can create Workboxes out of shoeboxes, magazine racks, file folders, crates, wicker backets, etc.
• Workboxes are filled by mom daily to include the work assignments and materials needed for each subject.
• Workboxes include; workbooks, worksheets, books, flash cards, wipe-off mats, games,   arts and crafts,  stationary, snacks and little surprises.
• Each workbox has everything the child needs i.e. a worksheet and pencil or wipe-off mat and crayons.
• The boxes are numbered.
• The boxes have direction cards  i.e. read mom a story, write a letter, 30 minutes of free time, etc. ( laminated cards can be used over and over, moms all over cyber space and making cute printable to share)
• Children complete one box before moving to the next.
• Workboxes can be completed by children independently unless tagged with a “Work with Mom” tag.
• When all the boxes are completed work is school work is over for the day.

Modifying the Workbox System  for the Heart of Wisdom Approach

We adapted Sue’s recommendations for the Heart of Wisdom approach (unit study/Charlotte Mason methods). The majority of our school day is spent together reading aloud, copywork, narration, or lapbooking together. I have workboxes for each child (phoincs, spelling, math, surprises, snacks, flashcards, handwriting worksheets, educational games, etc) inerspersed with Family Workboxes for Bible, history, and science. Almost all our work is done together so instead of “Work with Mom” card my children have a few “Work Independantly” cards.

“This structure provides both teacher and student an air of organization, clear expectations, and even alevel of peace and calm, all of which creates a better learning environment.”~Sue Patrick

Workbox Benefits

• Versatile - works with any curriculum.
• Prioritized -Always assign Bible study to the #1 box! You’ll get the most important thing done daily.
• Economical – use cereal boxes, or recycle scrapbook or toy bins or dollar store storage containers
• Easy- a few hours of reading and your ready to start your plan.
• Organized – forces helps mom to be organized and plan the school day ahead of time.
• Logical – Filing boxes with school assignments and projects make so much more sense than writing things in a lesson planner then pulling them out one at a time all day long.
• Saves Time – Everything is completly laid out befor ethe day begins (no running around looking for scissors, markers, a certain worksheet,  etc.)
• Flexable – easy to adapt schedule.  When interruption arises you can have the children to do independent work until you are free to do “Work with Mom” one-on-one.
• Scheduled – everyone knows what is expected of them, how much work there is to be done, and when their work is completed. No more “Are we done yet.” (If I only had a nickel for everytime I heard…”)
• Promotes Independence - You and children can view independent or “work with mom” assignments at a glance.
• Promotes Peace - Creates a smooth running well-structured learning environment (which make mom happy, and when mom is happy everyone is happy).
• Motivates -  children to see all their work at all times, as well as see it disappear as completed. Helps children grow in self-control and independence, give them a sense of accomplishment.
• Promotes Family Togetherness -Since everything is laid out you can rope dad into helping! share you homeschool experience with Daddy by letting him teach from a few boxes.
• Systematize -You can incorporate all those things you bought but keep forgetting to add to your school day like   like flash cards, games,  timelines, map skills, etc by placing them in a workbox.

My Homeschool Workbox Plan

I  temporarily converted my Scrapbook Organizer Cart (with Drawers) in to a Workbox Station to get started.

So far this is working  for workbooks and worksheets but the bins are much too narrow.  I want deeper bins for unit studies and lapbook projects.

I prayed for an alternative (because I don’t want to spend any money). Then, I thought of  the boys IKEA’s Trofast toy station ( we bought at IKEA when we lived in VA).

It is sturdy and still looks great after 10 years.  I went upstairs and moved it into our dining room/schoolroom area. It is perfect–almost.

IKEA’s Trofast system comes with different size bins. Ours has very deep 12” bins (see right). I need the shallower bins as shown below. I can use 3″ bins for worksheets and workbooks but also use the deep bins to hold reading books and unit study books. I can’t wait to get my bins (cheap too only $3 each)

There is no IKEA near my home so I have to shop online and IKEA will not ship the bins I need

My parents live near an IKEA and will pick them up and bring them to me next month.

When get the system to a the place the way I want it,  I will post how to use Workboxes with Heart of Wisdom approach. Thats what Heart of Wisdom is about, incorporating super ideas that work.

Workbox Videos

Whose Using Workboxes?

I created a directory of over 50 families using the workbox system. Visit these blogs for great ideas how to tweak this system for your family.

I absolutely love looking at all the different workboxes and reading all the ideas. You can also join a forum of sorts at the  Homeschool Lounge Workbox Group

Did you blog about Workboxing? Want to be added to this list? Just add a comment and link to your Workbox post.

Hows this for a dream Homeschool area? Its actually a quilter’s room.

Sheri at What’s In the Box? put together a blog list of those using the Workbox System.

What do you think? Doesn’t this system sound super!? Are you using it? Are you interested?

It seems to me every homeschooler that hears about this system jumps on it! Please comment and share.

The Parable of the Sower begins with the preaching of the Word, or the planting of the seed in the hearts of people. The seed is God’s Word; the different soils symbolize different types of hearts; and the varied results show the different responses to the Word of God.

It is our job as parents to sow the seeds lovingly into the hearts of our children.

The Word, unlike anything else you teach your children, is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). It is necessary for the truth of God to be cultivated to take root in the heart before it will bear fruit.

In the Parable of the Sower, three-fourths of the seed did not bear fruit, and there was no great harvest.

When you plant the seed (read God’s Word), water it with prayer, and share it in love you are causing the seed to be rooted and established in love (Ephesians 3:17).

The fruit will be seen in

• salvation (Matthew 7:16)
• good works (Colossians 1:10)
• holiness (Romans 6:22)
• Christian character (Galatians 5:22–23)
• winning others to Christ (Romans 1:13)
• sharing (Romans 15:25–28)
• praising God (Hebrews 13:15)

To plant this seed lovingly into the heart of your child, you need to have the fruit of love in your own life. It is a circle of life, and you must impress them [God’s Laws] on your children (Deuteronomy 6:7).

This is God’s plan for passing on the truth about Himself, from parent to child. As a child matures, he becomes a parent to the next generation, and so on. The seed must come from fruit—fruit from your life—God’s love, which is spread abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit.

When your own heart is full of love—as a result of God’s Word planted in you—the love of Christ will overflow into the hearts of your children: it will give itself out, give itself away, and enrich the lives of others.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.—2 Timothy 3:14–17

There is no fruit unless there is hearing first. In Matthew 13 alone, the word hear occurs nineteen times. Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

Jesus said, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9). “Consider carefully what you hear,” Jesus continued (Mark 4:24, emphasis mine). And, “Consider carefully how you listen,” He declared (Luke 8:18).

In Deuteronomy 6, God told the people that their children were to hear His Word throughout the day from their parents’ mouths (verse 7), they were to see it expressed in symbols (verse 9) and in their homes (verse 8).

God’s Law [instruction] was to be passed on so that godliness and righteousness would be carried down from generation to generation.

Hearing is the first step. After you read the Word to your children.

Chronologically Bible Storying

Seventy five percent of the Bible is story. Jesus taught with stories. Heart of Wisdom recommends you put Bible first in every homeschool day.
It is astounding that homeschooler being homeschooling for religious reasons yet little of the Bible actually gets studied.  The Word of God is only sprinkled into a school day, like a Continued

Go and Sow, Sow, Sow…

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/res/images/index/seed-sowing-hand1.jpg