Sonlight Homeschooling Blog

Oct. 11, 2012

Transitions ...

By Judy

Any journey comes with changes in direction. Our homeschool journey has been no different. Our path changed dramatically when our firstborn graduated from our homeschool and went to college ... and then graduated from college ... and got married. The road ahead looked significantly different after those events!

Our path changed direction again when our second child graduated from our homeschool and headed to college. When, after her first semester, she decided to continue her college education online, from home, that path changed yet again.

Our youngest will graduate from our homeschool in the spring. He is already dual-enrolled with the college he plans to attend next fall. At that point in time I expect our journey will change radically.

One of the greatest challenges as our journey has transitioned has been the change in our relationship with our children. I have been pondering those transitions this week after reading an article titled Entering Neither World in Thriving Family magazine. The author discusses that transition time when children move from being wholly dependent on parents to wanting a greater level of independence. She shares the following quote from therapist Rebecca Dowden explaining that this stage of development is called "individuation." The therapist states that the details differ for every teen, but the common denominator is that they are all learning to view themselves as separate from their parents.

That's a tough transition! Having spent all these years teaching our kids to be a valued member of our family, part of our "team" ... now it's time to let them go?! Did someone forget to tell me that was going to happen?!

As difficult as these transitions have been on this mom, I have thoroughly enjoyed the conversations with our kids as we talk about issues from an adult perspective. The other evening the newest voter in our house had a great conversation with me about the value (or lack thereof) of presidential debates. That conversation transitioned into the cost of college education, and how in the world anyone could afford it. I am excited when my kids seek my input, but also somewhat melancholy when I consider that these transitions mean more change is ahead!

To embrace change is never easy, but I'm determined to do so. After all, isn't this our ultimate goal? The transition from teen to adult is a huge one ... but it can be one of the most rewarding, and one of the most challenging. Launching our homeschooled students into the world is one of the greatest impacts we can have on society.

Wishing you well with the transitions in your homeschool journey ...

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

Tagged boundaries, teens, transition | Leave a comment

Oct. 10, 2012

Why Children Cheat: Classrooms, Karma, and Consequences

By Luke

Within the recesses of her hoody, she embodies the girl described in the opening of Britt Nicole's Headphones song. It's the next best thing to an invisibility cloak. And from these artificial shadows, she glares at the loathed "bubble test" before her. The question doesn't make sense; her pencil moves to fill in option C.

Her hidden eyes catch sight of the sheet filled in by the student next to her. He's a "smart" kid who probably has the right answer. And it's so easy to lift his decisions completely undetected.

She darkens a different bubble.

"As long as I don't get caught, nobody cares how I figured out which letter to fill in. Besides," she reassures herself, "I don't work overly hard to cover up my sheet. I give back too."

Hoody

Like this middle school student, I also dislike Scantron® tests. They tend to test your ability to guess what the teacher wants, ask you to mindlessly repeat what you've been told, and reinforce data points over understanding. And, because mastery isn't the key, cheating is a logical step forward. I never considered cheating when I had an education based on mastery. But when your success rides on your ability to properly select the correct letter one hundred times in a row... you start to feel like maybe you're playing a different game. And if that's the case, cheating makes sense.

Listening to this girl's story, however, hinted at something I hadn't considered before: Karma. She justified cheating by saying, "At least I let others cheat off me too." In so doing, she pays off her "debt to society" by "giving back" to those around her. The non sequitur would be funny if it didn't betray such a deep misunderstand of education: "I'm here paying my dues. The more we can help each other all get by, the better."

Right now I am not concerned with the consequences of cheating. Of far greater importance is the consequence of an educational model where students have been so far removed from the process of learning that cheating has become an act of kindness to their fellow student.

In the past I would tell kids that "you aren't doing yourself or your friends any favors by cheating." But now I'm not so sure that's true. Such statements only make sense when the goal is for you to learn how to use and apply knowledge. If the purpose of a classroom is to get you to properly fill in a piece of paper, taking a "group test" makes the most sense.

Homeschooling gives you the opportunity to create an environment where applying knowledge is the goal. As you do that, you'll find that filling in the bubbles is just an added bonus on the side.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

P.S. Now I'm wondering: Does this view carry on beyond the classroom? Could this be part of the growing misunderstanding of how we actively help our "fellow man"? If the goal is to have a fish, does it matter how I got it?

Tagged character, education, goals, Testing, thinking | Leave a comment

Oct. 9, 2012

Cultivating Good Thinking

By Robert

Not long after the advent of World War II, C.S. Lewis preached a sermon which later came to be called "Learning in War-Time" (see The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses). In a famous quote from the address, Lewis said, "Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered."

For our purposes we can rephrase the quote as follows: "Good thinking must exist, if for no other reason, because bad thinking needs to be answered." One of the educational goals we have at Sonlight is to help children think critically so that they can intelligently engage a wide variety of ideas. In other words, we want to cultivate good thinking.

How can we accomplish the cultivation of good thinking? We don't do it by indoctrinating children, which actually stifles critical thinking skills. Instead, we often present a variety of different ideas, some of which are even opposed to our Christian approach, and then seek to explore and engage those concepts intelligently. Our Instructor's Guide Notes, for instance, often provide many additional insights, seeking not only to present opposing views fairly, but also exploring responses and related ideas.

As I craft curriculum notes, I'm always asking myself questions such as, "What is the best explanation for this issue? What other viable options exist? What is the strongest point this perspective makes? Does the reasoning behind this viewpoint hold up? If we grant this position, what are the consequences? How might a biblical response to this question look?"

In order to thoughtfully critique ideas, we must first seek to understand them correctly. This involves, for example, patience, the ability to sift through ideas carefully, an understanding of the issues involved, and a good dose of humility.

Personally, I don't want my four children to grow up without the ability to think critically about the ideas they will encounter. I'd rather they become equipped to deal with all kinds of ideas in a way that is thoughtful and winsome. As ambassadors of Christ, they can then confidently seek to understand and evaluate ideas, contributing good thinking and, when necessary, gently respond to bad thinking.

How do you help your children think through ideas?

Robert Velarde
Author/Educator/Philosopher

Tagged Christianity, critical thinking, curriculum, education, ideas, logic, thinking, worldviews | Leave a comment

Oct. 8, 2012

How Your Children Learn Best

By Luke

Tremors are building in the online education world. I've noticed them for about a year now and haven't paid much attention. But it's becoming harder to ignore the complaints against Khan Academy. Personally, I've never watched one of his videos. As an editor, the idea of listening to a guy present unrehearsed and uncut for 10-15 minutes is painful. Plus, I'm not looking to revisit trig at this time.

While educators debate the merits of Khan's claims, others are looking to the past as they try to see the future of free online college courses. Do such classes work? How can we tell? What should we do differently? How should educators utilize these tools?

As a homeschool parent, you get to customize your school day to fit your children's needs. You can tweak your schedule to jump ahead in subjects your kids get and take time to really focus on an idea if a student is struggling. You can also find resources that resonate with each student. Unlike teachers who are, naturally, stuck trying to find the best resources for the greatest number of students, you can find the tools that work for each of your kids. As an example, we offer several handwriting and math programs that meet unique needs. You can find the one that works best for each child.

Personally, I'm enthralled with the prospect of excellent free online classes (I've even to created my own free film courses). I love finding quick tutorials online. I often share TED Talks and other fascinating things I notice on your blogs. I glance at youtube.com/edu and iTunes U every now and again. All these are potentially really helpful resources.

But for how great they are, they will never replace you.

Indeed, I'm convinced these resources work best when you are involved in the content with your children. You are so important because of your expertise in your children's learning. You know--and are learning--how your children learn best. And even if a web video can convey information to billions of people around the world, you can snuggle up next to your children and help them apply these ideas to their lives.

By doing so, you can help your students soar no matter what's happening in the trenches of education.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

P.S. If you're looking for some ideas on how to improve your homeschool experience, check out some of the educational videos we've posted on our YouTube Homeschool Helps playlist.

Tagged education, learning, videos | Leave a comment

Oct. 5, 2012

God uses regular people to change the world

By Luke

Each Global Prayer Digest begins with a missionary biography. This month we read about William Carey, a self-taught shoemaker who launched the modern missions movement and translated the Bible into multiple languages (among other things). If this brief overview of Carey's life inspires you, just wait until you meet him in Core F!

History shows us that God uses regular people to change the world. I love that Sonlight's programs emphasize this fact by including so many biographies in the Core packages. We can gain real heroes in people who followed God wherever He led them. We can be encouraged that God uses all types, and has given us unique skills and opportunities to expand His kingdom. May we boldly step into the roles God has called us fill, and rely on His strength to do more through us than we could ever accomplish on our own.

This theme is pretty heavy for me right now because I finished watching Machine Gun Preacher last night. This R-rated movie--primarily for tons of language and intense violence--tells the story of Sam Childers. I hadn't heard of him, but since I have friends here at Sonlight from Sudan, I was aware of some of the atrocities going on over there. It's crazy. I was moved by the film because it shows how God can use a very flawed man to do good. Redemption. That's not something I see Hollywood get right very often. Come to think of it, Christian films don't get that right much ether. And if God can transform and use Sam, He can do something with me as well. May I have the faith to follow Him.

The most negative reviews of the film tend to have a similar thread: The story is unbelievable, overly Christian, promotes a "white-man" savior complex, and degrades the people of Sudan. One comment went so far as to say, "Seems so cliche', even though, apparently, this is what is happening, if we are to believe the film."

<cough>

One woman in my prayer group is worried about her family back home because people bring the children poisoned water in the hopes of killing more of them. And that's just one example. The film, while brutal, doesn't tell the half of it. Be warned: If you decide to tackle Machine Gun Preacher, it is certainly not cleaned up. You will encounter inappropriate content, difficult questions, examples of bad theology fueled by frustration, and a glimpse of what giving everything we have to God's call can do to our lives.

One more theme echoed from a post earlier this week: To do good in the world, we often need funds. William Carey took a factory job to support himself. Sam Childers sold his business. If God gives us wealth, may we be wise in how we use it to expand His kingdom.

As you homeschool your children, encourage them to follow God wherever He leads. Give them heroes. Discuss hard topics. And remember that God has also given you a great opportunity: He has enabled you to raise up the next generation of people willing and ready to follow Him and change the world!

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

Tagged biographies, children, curriculum, discussion, missions, prayer | Leave a comment

Oct. 4, 2012

A 21-day Prayer Challenge

By Sarita

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
–Philippians 4:6

I'd like to be more strategic in my prayer habits. I believe God hears our prayers and answers them. But I often find myself praying haphazardly.

I have so many cares and concerns rolling around in my head – from family needs to friends who are struggling; from dreams for Sonlight to anxiety for persecuted Christians in India. I'm afraid I often worry instead of presenting the situation to God in prayer.

A Sonlight family prays at breakfast

John and I heard Marilynn Chadwick speak at a Mission India conference a few weeks ago. She had such an encouraging outlook on prayer, I've started reading her book Sometimes He Whispers, Sometimes He Roars: Learning to Hear the Voice of God. I've found one of her ideas particularly helpful.

The Challenge
I'd like to invite you to join me in what Marilynn calls the 21-day prayer challenge. If you'd like to add some structure to how you pray for others, consider these steps:

First, sit down with God and list out all the cares and concerns in your heart – all the things you'd like to pray for. Marilynn said most people end up with 50-70 items on their list.
Next, start at the top of your list and work down the page, numbering the consecutive items 1 through 7 over and over until you reach the end. (When you're done, each item will have a number from 1 through 7 by it. This naturally divides the list into 7 groups.)
Now, commit to pray for each group one day a week for three weeks. On Monday, you'll pray for all the items marked with a 1. On Tuesday, you'll pray for the 2s, and so on.
Finally, Marilynn invites us to read one chapter of the Gospel of John every day for these 21 days. She recommends that you write down a verse or thought that sticks out to you each day from your reading. I'm excited to see that God has taught or reminded me of important truth each day as I've done this.

When you make your list of prayer points, Marilynn encouraged us to list the people/concerns near and dear to us, such as our spouse, each child and the deep longings of our hearts. She also encouraged us to think beyond our own families and communities. Consider including your church, missionaries you support, individual government leaders, and/or a particular country God has put on your heart.

I made my list and now pray with it daily. I like that I have a plan I'm following to ensure I really pray for what I want to pray for. Instead of an overwhelming jumble of concerns to lift up each day, I have about 8 things to focus on every day. I pray for my family daily anyway, but now I know I will focus in prayer for each person at least once a week. I now pray for John on Mondays, for Amy on Tuesdays, for Luke on Wednesdays, and so on.

I pray regularly for missionaries, but now I've added specific nations I pray for each day. I pray that a vibrant indigenous church will form, that the government will bring peace for the people, and that God will be glorified in that country.

I don't know if I'll use this strategy long-term, but I'll at least do it for 21 days. Does this sound like a tool that would help you? I'd love for you to join me.

Blessings,
Sarita

PS: I know this plan only covers one type of prayer (i.e., petition). But I think it will help me be more strategic in that one area!

PPS: I like the paraphrase of Philippians 4:6 in The Message: "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns." May we do that indeed!

Tagged family, government, missions, prayer | 1 Comment

Oct. 2, 2012

Economics, Taxes, and Giving

By Luke

Yesterday I presented some ideas about education and employment. In the current climate, it's easy to see in those observations that capitalism can reveal selfish monsters. Indeed, one need not look far to uncover examples of greed and corruption in business. Some blame government, others blame a lack thereof. Both miss the reality that we, as humans, are fallen... greedy and selfish, prone to discrimination and abuse of others.

On the other hand, because business generates wealth, there are vast possibilities to produce good in the world. Learn more about Sonlight's commitment to giving.

Business also demands efficiency and outcomes. If pouring resources into a particular charity ends up not being helpful, those funds are shifted elsewhere. This is not the case, for example, with government, which has little accountability for the funds it collects. A similar fate tends to befall children who are given large inheritances (tabloids thrive on examples of this). Business owners, on the other hand, seek to be strategic in their giving, often refusing to be pulled into the latest hip cause like the rest of us.

Charity based on feelings is dangerous. I've been told that disaster areas, such as Haiti, still haven't recovered despite gobs of foreign aid. They were ill-equipped to make use of the funds and families are still struggling today. Other situations are made far worse when we give money to the cause. In one case, Americans sent mosquito nets to a country ravaged by malaria. But because the nets were made outside of the county in trouble, the local economy crumbled when a mosquito net factory had to close down as demand plummeted. Today, the business man and his 100 employees are out of work.

As the election season threatens to overwhelm us with dissonance, I have heard one thing about economics that fascinated me. It's a Planet Money podcast titled The No-Brainer Economic Platform. This is interesting to me because my parents are always looking for ways to give even more. But as politicians flood us all with debt, there is increasing talk about doing-away with charitable deductions. If that happened, and income tax was not also eradicated as suggest in the 30 minute podcast, suddenly the 50 cents of every dollar my parents earn to give to missions would, instead, go to fund government projects.

So many of the issues that surround us today have expensive economic ramifications. If your students are getting older, or you want to brush up on your understanding of the issues we face today, take a look at Sonlight's Economics Program. There's more to this than just money! And if you take half and hour to listen to the Planet Money podcast, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester

Tagged economics, giving, missions | Leave a comment

Transitions ...

Why Children Cheat: Classrooms, Karma, and Consequences

Cultivating Good Thinking

How Your Children Learn Best

God uses regular people to change the world

A 21-day Prayer Challenge

Economics, Taxes, and Giving

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