flynn057

Dear friends, I've tried to cultivate a habit of reading a chapter of the Bible to my children each morning.  When our school year ended, I got pretty lax with this, but this week, we picked back up in the book of Acts.  I was struck as we read through it how many vocabulary words we could learn, so whenever I came to a word that I thought some of my children wouldn't know very well, I stopped and discussed it with them.  I feel that this really brings out the meaning of the passage and helps them think about it more fully.  Since we aren't doing much formal schooling during the summer, this gives me at least a little time to engage their brains in deeper thinking, too. I use the New International Version (NIV) 1984 translation for daily reading with my children.  You can find this and other versions on www.BibleGateway.com  or download it onto a mobile device such as an iPod Touch or iPhone using the YouVersion app.  You can also probably find a Bible...

Dear friends, I presented a workshop called "With  Literature and Justice for All:  Teaching Virtuous Reality with American Literature for 4th-8th Grades"  the 4th Annual  Books & Beyond conference . I've got four video clips linked below, as well as handouts and links for on-line study guides. Part 1: Justice & Stories Part 2: Exploration, Colonies & Revolution Part 3: Pioneers, Civil War, Immigration & Civil Rights Part 4: Family History, Field Trips & Virtuous Reality Workshop notes... With Literature and Justice for All: Teaching "Virtuous Reality" with American Literature in the 4th-8th Grades What do stories teach?   Stories capture our interest, stir our imagination, and engage the heart. Stories teach us to ask, "What would I do if you found myself in this scenario?" Stories teach, by positive and negative examples, how to handle situations and challenges in life. What are the consequences of each decision? (Noble action ca...

Great American Communicators: Patrick Henry Patrick Henry was home schooled by his father and his uncle. He had ten brothers and sisters. He didn’t do well at farming or storekeeping, so he taught himself law. He became famous for a case known as “The Parson’s Cause” and went on to establish himself as a prominent lawyer in Williamsburg, Virginia. Patrick married twice. His first wife, Sarah, went insane after childbirth and had to be confined to her home for several years until she died. Between both wives, he had 15 children, but not all of them survived childhood. A powerful orator, Patrick Henry was always a staunch supporter of liberty and patriotism. His “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech in March 1775 is credited with starting the American Revolution in Virginia. He held the following public offices:    Delegate, Virginia House of Burgesses, 1765-1775 Member, Virginia Committee of Correspondence, 1773 Delegate, Continental Congress, 1774-1775 Delegate, Virginia C...

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt is a poignant novel for middle school age readers, although it can also be used for upper elementary and high school.  Set during the Civil War, the title refers to the fact that the war started in April 1861 and ended in April 1865.  This is a deep novel about complex issues and the different perspectives that can be taken about slavery and war. Expect to read carefully along with your student and be prepared to discuss the themes.  There is much to learn about life, courage, and decisions here!  IMPORTANT NOTE: I have referred to three historical poems in this study guide. You can find them in the on-line study guide document which  also contains all of the questions you find below in an easy-to-print Across Five Aprils Study Questions and Poetry PDF . The novel is available from Christian Book Distributors here: Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt .   You can find the publisher's free study guide PDF fi...