Last week I was asked to speak to the parents involved in our homeschooling co-op, Coram Deo, about what Classical Christian Education is. Below is the text of my brief explanation. Certainly more can be said about the value and distinctiveness of Classical Ed, but this was my 5-minute pitch. . . . . Nelson Mandela has rightly said that education is the most powerful weapon with which you can use to change the world. As homeschooling parents we not only have the opportunity to directly influence what our children learn, we also have the opportunity to mold them into young men and women who will be equipped to change the ...Read More
10 Biblical Reasons We Should Appreciate Wine
Let's discuss some Biblical Reasons We Should Appreciate Wine. If you know me well, you know I make my own beer and wine. If you know me really well, you know I really enjoy an ice-cold mug of IPA or a nice glass of Malbec. I firmly believe wine is a good gift from God and that, while living on earth, His own Son enjoyed it. On more than one occasion I've been asked how I could possibly defend my enjoyment of alcohol being a Christian. Is wine in the Bible portrayed in a positive way? Yes. It is. I also understand there are some who believe differently than me in this matter. It is not my point here to ...Read More
Idea for Christian Dads: Writing a Yearly Letter to Your Kids
Today is a very special day: we celebrate our oldest sons eighth birthday. I've had the privilege of being his daddy for four and a half years now. (For the story of how I met Bradley and his mom, read this post.) A new tradition I'm starting this year is writing my son a letter of encouragement and reading it to him on his birthday. My plan is to collect these letters in a scrapbook that I can give to him later in life. In these letters I plan to include favorite memories, affirming words, and a personal challenge for him to follow Christ with his whole heart. If you would like to read this years letter to Bradley, ...Read More
Judges-Kings Bible Curriculum from Veritas Press (Review)
This year I decided I wanted to be more involved in Bradley's homeschooling, so I took on the task of being in charge of his Bible curriculum. I was already overseeing the time of family prayer and Bible reading at night before bedtime, so I thought this would be a good way to continue that and take some of the burden of homeschooling off my wife. The Veritas Press Bible curriculum did not disappoint. What I Liked The Veritas Press card system is very easy for kids to use. Much like their history curriculums, each Bible curriculum from 2nd through 6th grade comes with 32 cards, each detailing a specific event, period, ...Read More
Great Bedtime Stories: The Wingfeather Saga
Enter the world of Aerwiar, a land where the hordes of Gnag the Nameless have overtaken once peaceful lands, all in search of the Lost Jewels of the Shining Isle of Anniera. It is a happy world much like our own...except for the venomous and heavily armed Fangs of Dang who rule land, and except for the forests haunted with Toothy Cows, Horned Hounds, and Gargan Rockroaches, and except for the dreaded Black Carriage that comes from beyond the River Blapp to steal your children in the middle of the night. This is the world of Andrew Peterson's Wingfeather Saga. Recently my seven-year-old and I have been reading through ...Read More
Homeschooling Astronomy Curriculum for Homeschoolers
I wouldn't dare try to tackle the subject of astronomy without a good textbook, so I was very excited when I found Signs & Seasons. As far as curriculums go, nothing I've seen comes close to this. Two enthusiastic thumbs up to Jay Ryan for writing such an excellent resource. This year I've been teaching a Classical Astronomy class in our local homeschool co-op. I've been using both the Signs & Seasons textbook and the accompanying Field Journal. The curriculum is meant for high-school-age students, and after trying it out in a classroom setting, I'm eager to use it with my own kids when they get older. ...Read More
10 Reasons to Teach Astronomy to Your Kids
Astronomy is not a subject many parents I know are eager to teach to their kids, so when I offered to teach a Classical Astronomy class in our local homeschool co-op, several parents sounded interested. This year, teaching Astronomy to a dozen or so 7th-12th graders has been very rewarding, and it has convinced me even more about the benefits of a child learning to appreciate and understand the heavens. What is "Classical" Astronomy? Classical Astronomy is the study of the motions of the heavenly bodies—the sun, moon, stars, and planets—as seen from earth. Unlike modern astronomy, classical astronomy does not rely on ...Read More
