Kerrville Homeschoolers has moved!

I've been working hard on my homeschool blog!

I much prefer Wordpress over Blogger (*reason #1 because blogger won't let me post a link!!!! you actually have to type in the address because blogger is so BAD that it actually inserts blogger.com into the link) so I've moved www.kerrvillehomeschoolers.com over there. I'd love it if you add my banner to your blog!




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A Typical Day in the Beck House

Over the past few weeks, life in the Beck house has changed dramatically. I am so humbled by God's ever present hand in my life.

For years we have known of the book Teaching the Trivium by Bluedorn. We knew of this book because we homeschool using the Classical Christian approach.

After seeing it go on sale I purchased it for Michael and once he cracked the book life as we knew it changed. It's not like we were living a bad life, God just had bigger plans for us.

Have you ever known that you believed in something or knew something but couldn't quite put it into words? Then when you read it in print the huge lightbulb flicks on and you have that moment of suspended motion. A moment when you say "finally! Someone else thinks like I do."

Well, Teaching the Trivium provided that moment for Michael. I love to see this fire in my husband. He can't stop devouring new information (if you know Michael you're probably thinking that he's always been this way. he has but now it's multiplied exponentially!).

If you are completely clueless on what classical christian homeschooling is or what the heck Teaching the Trivium is about, here is a synopsis:

The Trivium In a Capsule

The Trivium consists of the first three formal subjects of the seven liberal arts: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. This is the formal Trivium in the classical sense. This formal Trivium is an academic reflection of the more basic Biblical Trivium, the mental capacities of Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. (See the list of references at the end of this article.) The classical style of education is built upon these three mental or intellectual capacities:

1. The first, for receiving and gathering up information - Knowledge.
2. The second, for arranging and connecting the information in a logical order - Understanding.
3. The third, for putting this gathered and ordered information into practical expression - Wisdom.

Children are continually developing in Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. Though these three capacities are mutually dependent upon each other, and the capacities are developing in the child from before birth, nevertheless, children pass through several developmental stages, or levels of learning, where one capacity experiences rapid growth. We will describe these stages below. Keep in mind that our age divisions are not meant as nice neat little cubicles. They are only arbitrary approximations, and they may vary greatly from child to child.

...
In summary, the capacities for Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom are not neat little compartments with sealed doors between them. Rather, they all develop at the same time from the very beginning, yet they each pass through successive periods of intensive development, until they finally catch up with each other and work harmoniously together. These ages are only approximate, and your child may be on either side of the line.

To summarize it all in one sentence: we first instruct the child in Knowledge; then we guide the youth in Understanding; then we challenge the older youth in Wisdom.

*Exodus 31:3; 35:31; 36:1; Deuteronomy 1:13,15; First Kings 7:14; Job 15:8-9; Proverbs 2:6; 3:19,20; 5:1,2; 8:12; 18:15; 23:23; 24:3,4; Daniel 1:4,17; 5:14; Ephesians 1:8,9,17,18; Colossians 1:9,10; 2:2,3; and many other places.

Peruse that site for more information on the Trivium and Classical Education.

Now, as my title eluded to, here is our daily schedule. Michael feared I would push-back (as I often do with change) and that the kids would resist. However, like all things God designed "the cards fell into place". Life has been much easier, less chaotic and abundantly rich since implementing this schedule.

7:00 am Wake Up. Breakfast. Chores (I will add this chart in another post)
8:00 am Bible time/Family worship/Prayer
8:30-9:30 am General meeting

1. Recite memory work- Bible verses, alphabet (eng., latin, greek, hebrew)
2. Reading- children read (Bible history, Constitution, poetry, etc.)
3. Practice narration- Haley or Mommy reads, Haven and Haley narrate back

9:30-10:15 am Mommy reads. May ask questions to children about what was read. Can do art or crafts but must be quiet! (the littles may busy their hands but must listen)

10:15-11:30am

1. Phonics for Haven - English notebook
2. Copywork- minimum 15-20 minutes (Bible, history, poetry, quotes, speeches, latin, greek) - can combine w/ artwork and draw pictures of what is being copied - put in English notebook
3. History and Timeline

11:30-1:00pm

1. Prepare and eat lunch
2. chores
3. clean house

1:00-2:00pm Naps.

2:00-2:45pm Mommy reads aloud (same system as 9:30)

2:45-4:30pm nature walks, play outside, library, volunteer work, field trips, museums, fairs, workplaces, ....

4:30-5:00pm Mommy works out

5:00-6:30pm Dinner and chores. Bible reading and questions w/ daddy.
6:30-7:30pm Daddy reads. Latin or Greek work.

My Life is Blessed

I feel like I should bust out in the most beautiful voice a hymn praising God for the beauty in my life. But doing so would most certainly bring to a halt all things glorious due to my dog-howl of a voice.

I mean, God would hear only the very hidden, inaudible to humans, angelic harmony in my voice so perhaps I will.

*clearing my throat* Maybe a hymn isn't the best. Perhaps a little Blessed Be Your Name and why listen to me when you can listen to Newsboys and Rebecca St. James!

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord - Newsboys

I love it!!

So how exactly is my life blessed?

I live in a gorgeous town with trees, hills, deer, rivers, and not too many people.

I have a husband who took our family from repossession, near foreclosure, no groceries, a failing business to a life of so much freedom and fun. He never stops creating and learning. He dives head first into new businesses that 99% of the population would never touch b/c "it's too hard".

No one understands what he does. I can't say "he's a chiropractor" (well he still is but not a practicing one). And if I say "oh he's an internet marketer, chiropractic coach, google adwords genius, PPC master" then the listener's eyes would glaze over and they'd quickly change the subject.

My children. Oh my precious little 1/2 monsters. Life is challenging with them but life is so much better because of them. I homeschool **whoa. stop the bus! you do what??**

Yes, I am one of "those" moms. One who has decided that it is up to us to educate our children properly and bring them up in the Lord as the Lord desires.

It doesn't take a genius to see that homeschooling is the better choice ... don't stop reading yet please... Most people I talk to agree with that statement but they quickly admit that it isn't for their family because "they could never homeschool".

Most moms, including myself 3 years ago, are not ready to give up that image of dropping the kids off at school, getting things done in peace and quiet, and baking cookies for the kids to savor as they arrive home.

Most moms, including myself 3 years ago, cannot fathom being solely responsible for the future intelligence of their children.

Yet, after a couple of years I realized that I actually enjoy the company of my children and homeschooling isn't really that hard. Oh and there is so much less guilt when baking cookies when it's done for educational purposes.

It's a no-brainer for our family. With weekly reports of school shootings, sexual assaults on buses, kidnappings at bus stops... the choice is easy. I pray frequently for the physical, emotioal, and mental safety of my precious family members who attend public school.

I pray for my family and my ability to maintain my sanity through it all. I couldn't do it without the Lord.

There are so many ways God has blessed me. On days where I'm feeling selfish or rotten I am quickly reminded of how much good surrounds me. It's a smile from my 10wk old, it's a "i luz you" from my 2yr old, it's a bobble-head imitation by my 4yr old, it's a "what can I do for you mom?" from my 7yr old.

All are glimpses of God :)

Right Choices = Controversy

Why is it that doing the right thing or letting it be known that you are not just like everyone else causes controversy? I have actually had someone (someone very close to me) yell at me for making them feel bad for the choices they made--NOT because of something I said, mind you--but because of the way I live! What the heck??

Then I had a mom call me the other day about homeschooling and she told me her daughter's teacher said she couldn't read ahead because it might make the other students feel dumb. So okay, let's put a ceiling on this girl and teach her that being smart is a bad thing. Makes sense. I have learned to keep my lips tightly pursed. God has been good to me on that one. My tongue used to get me in lots of trouble. (Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 17:28, Proverbs 21:23)

The thing that gets me the most is people who get offended by my choices are Christians. Yet the Bible is very clear:

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

I choose to not conform to the ways of the world (most certainly the ways of America). I choose to homebirth, not vaccinate, not circumcise, use alternative health, cloth diaper, breastfeed, co-sleep, profess my faith, submit to my husband, allow God to control my family size, spank my children, say NO, and make decisions based on long term results not instant gratification. I'm far from 100% on some of those, especially that last one. But that's why God blessed me with a very wise husband!

A woman emailed me the other day and I'd like to share part of it: (emphasis is mine)

Hey girl!!
I am in your small group at MOMS and I was wondering if you can help
me out. My family in general is moving in the direction of healthy
eating but this is ever more important right now. X needs to
change his habits from normal to pretty strict because of his
headaches. We need to eat fresh, non soy, no preservatives and
nitrate free.
Why am I telling you this? I think I heard you telling the helpers
at class that you did not want the kids drinking juice, I don't
either!! So this morning I thought of that statement and wanted to
email you. But anyway, I have been praying about this eating and you
came to mind. If you have any suggestions, book to recommend I would
love any help in this area. It is very hard to decipher through all
the millions of internet searches and books available!!

This is why you live by example. There is always someone watching and God will use you to glorify Him. I was in awe for days after this because it is so easy to think everyone thinks you're crazy (most do). But there are those who want a better life. Those who are just waiting for you to show them that you have some answers.

I invited this mom over and well I gave her more than she wanted I'm sure. It's kind of hard to stop yourself when you get started. But she went home and this was her reply email:

Ok. You have given me the tools to see that our food is
POISON!!!!!!!!!!!! X and I have checked out every label and are
going to transition all our foods to be MSG free among other
things!!! It is amazing what the FDA does not tell us and what they
allow in our foods. X and I have discussed that we feel so
betrayed by the food companies. Can't believe it.

Thank you for the information. I think it was info that we needed to
hear.

It is up to us to determine our paths not the FDA, CPS, Dept. of Health, CDC, Hospitals or media! I love that our children are a great example of smart choices we've made. The choices are never easy but then again Jesus told us we'd have trouble on this side of heaven. (John 16:33)

Paul's words are so full of inspiring, direct words. I feel this is a great end to my post:

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.