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Developing Character in Your Kids

Added by Heather Idoni

Monday, April 14, 2014
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Vol. 15 No. 6, April 14, 2014, ISSN: 1536-2035
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(c) 2014, Mary Beth Akers and Heather Idoni
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Welcome to The Homeschooler's Notebook!

If you enjoy our newsletter, please share it with a friend! 

http://www.familyclassroom.net

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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes...
-- Off to Ukraine!
Winning Website
-- The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Helpful Tips
-- Thoughts on Character Training
This Issue's Question
-- Charlotte Mason for Reading
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information

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Notes from Heather & Mary Beth
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Off to Ukraine!

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The time has finally come. Jim and I are traveling to Eastern Ukraine this week to begin the international portion of our adoption plans. Of course, when we began this journey last August, we didn't have a clue what was on the horizon for Ukraine. But God did! And we are trusting that He will complete what was begun in our hearts. If all goes smoothly, we should be bringing our new sons home in late June or early July at the latest. I am staying the entire time, but Jim will be traveling back and forth between home and Ukraine. I feel strongly that I need to stay until I bring the boys home with me, so that is the plan. Also I will be working with orphan care ministries while there and doing other missionary work. I'm very excited to see what God will accomplish in and through me! :-)

If anyone would like to follow along on our adventures, you can request to join our "friends" page here on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/groups/223379314503407/

Also -- thank you to those who have helped meet our financial needs! If you'd like to give (any amount), it is very appreciated. Here is a link for giving and reading our story...

www.youcaring.com/idoni

And thank you in advance for remembering us in your prayers!

-- Heather

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Thoughts on Character Training

Conventional schooling in general pursues academic goals. Even if a school's mission includes something about "teaching the whole person" or "preparing for adult life", those schools follow paths which progress in subject matter and lead to achievement tests and transcripts. State requirements for credit units are the milestones.

I hope that we homeschoolers have a vision that goes beyond measurable test scores and credit hours. I hope that we can help our children follow the example of the young Jesus, who "grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). The development of the intellect is fruitless unless our children are able to use their knowledge and skills within the context of wisdom. That path progresses in maturity and leads to exemplary character. Milestones are virtues taking root in the heart.

Character doesn't develop on its own; it requires intentional cultivation and direction. Check out our "tips" section below for suggestions on resources to help you influence growth in Godly character in your children!

-- Mary Beth

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Helpful Tips
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Suggestions for Character Training

Nearly all conflicts in life are the result of someone's deficiency in at least one area of character. Therefore, the person with high standards will significantly influence the level of contentment and peace around him.

Character can be evaluated only subjectively; it cannot be measured. It becomes evident through work ethic, respect toward others, general attitude, money and time management, and much more. Have your family formulate its own definition of character and then brainstorm characteristics of a person who has character. Think of people you know who exhibit strong morals and discuss what characteristics they have which make that impression on you.

Know your children well. Know where they are in their spiritual growth; know their strengths and weaknesses and take steps to help them mature. Address character issues in a timely fashion. Right choices and wrong choices both feed on themselves, and choices quickly become habits.

If you are spending time in Bible study, you are reading the best character guidelines that can be found anywhere. Doorposts (www.doorposts.com) has excellent resources for character development using purely Biblical guidelines. Tedd Tripp, in his book, Shepherding a Child's Heart offers effective principles for going beyond the outward behavior and dealing with the issues of the heart where the seeds of behaviors take root. Age of Opportunity by Paul Tripp addresses similar issues in regard to children in their teens.

Biographies and other stories can be outstanding character builders and you use them as examples and discussion starters. "What if. . . " questions help children to consider how the consequences would have been different if the character had made different choices. Since the plots of most stories grow out of conflict, and many times conflict is the result of a character failure, it's fairly easy to find good character lessons in most quality literature.

Academics are an important tool, but as we examine the fruit of educators who seek academics for their own sake, we can quickly realize that we want much more than that for our children. High standards of conduct will help them realize greater success in their marriages, in their careers, and in their ability to cope with the challenges of life.

-- Mary Beth



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Winning Website
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The Old Schoolhouse DIGITAL Magazine

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine offers a free digital edition every 2 months! Packed with excellent articles, you can read it free at no charge. Here is the latest edition -- and I've turned the page to a great article to start you off! It is called "Don't Just Do Something -- Stand There". :-)

www.thehomeschoolmagazine-digital.com/thehomeschoolmagazine/20140304/#pg35

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Last Issue's Question...
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Whether you use a method similar to the Charlotte Mason method or some other approach, what are some techniques you have found that have helped you in teaching reading?

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Our Readers' Answers...
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"I like to use Charlotte Mason techniques when teaching reading. One example would be using the letter tiles from Scrabble and just allowing the child to rearrange the letters to form words. They seem to love this way of learning because it feels more like a game than pointing to each word in a book. Just make sure they know their letters and sounds and eventually, in God's time, their reading will take off!"

-- Cindy

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New Reader Question...
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"Is anyone using Rosetta Stone for foreign language instruction? If so, do you use the personal edition, or the homeschool edition? Which do you think is better?" -- Mindy

Please share your thoughts with Mindy! :-)

Simply reply to this email or create a new email message and send to:
hn-answers(at)familyclassroom.net

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Do YOU have a question to ask our readers? We WELCOME your questions!
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
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All contributed articles are printed with the author's prior consent. It is assumed that any questions, tips or replies to questions may be reprinted. [Occasionally your contribution may have to be edited for space.]

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No part of this newsletter (except subscription information below) may be copied and/or displayed in digital format online (for instance, on a website or blog) without EXPRESS permission from the editor. Individuals may, however, forward the newsletter IN ITS ENTIRETY to friends or groups via email. For reprints in paper publications (homeschool support group newsletters, etc.) please direct your request to: Heather(at)FamilyClassroom.net.

 



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