How to share knowledge

Do you know that there are two ways to share knowledge?

1. For mere knowledge sake – just in order to show the person what you know.

2. For love’s sake – in order to build up the person listening to you.

Here is the scripture for this -

1 Corinthians 8 v 1b “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up”

Here it is in the Amplified version – “mere knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud) but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature]“

This truth applies in all sorts of situations.

What about when you are home educating your children – is your motive in teaching them to build them up? Are you coming from a place of love or a place of “I have to teach them this and that” Is your purpose to encourage them not discourage them?

It applies to everyday conversations – are you merely sharing knowledge on a topic to show that you know something that the other person doesn’t? Or are you sharing in order to build up that person, to encourage them?

This truth really brings home the point that less words are better – it is better to say a few words in love than to speak many words for your own edification.

I want to only share my knowledge in love – I want my hearers and readers to be built up , to be encouraged , to be edified and for them to grow. I want what I say to my children to build them up and to encourage them.

What about you?

Don’t Have Enough?

Do you think that you DON’T have enough? You don’t have enough money – always seem to be struggling?

Do you think that you DON’T have enough energy?

What about your parenting? – Never enough patience or wisdom to deal with those daily issues that pop up?

How about the homeschooling? – Do you feel like you are not making it? You haven’t got enough resources or knowledge of what to do next?

What about you and God? Do you feel inadequate to obey Him? Is there a lack of desire to read His word? to worship Him?

Well, have I got the verse for you today -

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that ALWAYS having ALL sufficiency in EVERYTHING, you may have an ABUNDANCE for EVERY good deed

2 Corinthians 9 v 8 NASB

That is the truth – As a child of God you have enough and even MORE to perform your daily tasks. He has promised us that in everything – homeschooling, parenting, healthy eating – EVERYTHING that HE has given us what we need. He is our source of energy, power, strength, wisdom, knowledge to get what we have on our to-do list done.

SO why are we not accessing this sufficiency in Christ?

Maybe you are trying to do everything in your own steam. Have you asked God daily to plan your day? Have you put Him first in your homeschool, in your day?

Maybe what you are trying to do isn’t what God would have you do – maybe it is the wrong task or maybe it is the wrong timing.

Let’s get back to God’s plans – because when we are fulfilling God’s daily calling on our lives then we will have everything we need to work it out. EVERYTHING – we will be lacking for nothing in fact we will have extra left over for more good works – AWESOME!

Rachel Larkin

Our Holiday to Australia

Hi – We are back from Australia – and what a trip! We were all suffering from the flu once we got back – but the trip was worth it.

The boys absolutely loved the airplane flight. Especially since we managed to score flying on a new 777 Air New Zealand plane. We all had a tiny screen to watch movies and play games. Talk about time flying<grin>.

It was so neat to actually go and visit a place that the boys have read about for so long PLUS to see their Nana and Poppa! They all wanted to stay there forever. But alas we had to jump back on the plane and come back to home – New Zealand.

Having done a little study on Australia in our homeschool PLUS going to visit the actual country – my boys are so inspired to study other countries AND to go and see them!!! They all want to jump on the next plane to London – to visit the Queen!!! I said “Maybe – you never know – one day”

The main lesson the boys learned on the trip was how vast Australia is – the roads are long – REALLY LONG and we were only travelled a small part of the country. The boys also took great interest in the way the people spoke – Australian! and came back trying to talk like an Aussie.

We visited the Australian Zoo – Steve Urwin’s Zoo and that was something special. To touch a Koala and feed a Kangaroo is something not to miss.

We had an absolutely awesome time mate, fair dinkum we did!!!

Rachel Larkin

Who is the builder of your home?

Here is a fantastic promise for you and your family -

Hebrews 3 v 14

The Builder of ALL things and the furnisher of the entire equipment of ALL things is God.

Who is the builder of your home school? Is it you, the mum or is it the dad or is it the government? This verse says that God is THE BUILDER. He is the one that will build your home school to where it is providing your children with knowledge, resources and skills so that they can discover their life purpose.

God not only is the builder but He is also the FURNISHER – He will add the “cream on top” for your home school – the little extras that make all the difference. Maybe a mentor that will come alongside your teen and assist in a certain skill or extra finances to send the family on a overseas trip that will open your children’s eyes to the world.

This takes all the “stress” out of home schooling (well it can help!) – we are not called to be the “builder” or “furnisher” of our homeschool – but God. It is His responsibility to provide us with the resources, time and energy (PTL!) to teach our little ones and big ones.

This verse says ALL THINGS – so not only our home schools but -

God is the BUILDER of our family relationships

God is the BUILDER of your home business

God is the BUILDER of this website

God is the BUILDER of our physical house

God is also the FURNISHER – He provides ALL the equipment, knowledge, resources and experiences for our family, homeschool, business and home.

GOD IS THE BUILDER AND FURNISHER OF MY LIFE!

Isn’t that awesome – let it sink in and take root in your heart.

Rachel Larkin

My Great Homeschooling Ideas – Part One

I am going to share with you some of My Great Homeschooling Ideas. (Keep reading for the FREEBIE!)

Todays idea is very simple but can be very effective!

Its using the idea of playing cards and turning the concept into one that is fun and educational.

My boys LOVE Australian V8 Supercars. Did I say my boys LOVE it? Well that is an understatement – they REALLY REALLY LOVE them. So I thought that I would turn their passion and love of V8 Supercars into a set of cards (sort of like Baseball cards, I guess – not that I have seen what a Baseball card looks like!).

I found some pictures of the cars and the drivers on the internet along with information of the cars and drivers. I then measured a normal card from a pack of playing cards and created an Excel spreadsheet. I cut and pasted the pictures and information into Excel. I had the driver picture and information on one card and the car and car details on another.

I then printed them out onto normal A4 photocopy paper using colour ink. Then I laminated them and cut them out. They look fantastic.

The boys have worn them out! – They started out by playing a sort of matching game with them – matching the cars with the drivers – this was great for my begining reader!. My ‘maths’ minded boy started working out how old the drivers were from the date of birth information on them. They learned geography from the information about place of birth and where they are living now.

My boys are into making lists – the V8 Supercars Cards that I made, gave them great content for their lists. I keep finding paper everywhere with the names of the drivers and cars that they have written out – guess what that is – COPYWORK!!! yep that is copywork.

An amazing side effect is how they have learned about sponsorship and advertising – every car is signwritten with the sponsors name and slogan. There has been many a discussion on advertising and sponsorship. WOW – just from making a set of plain cards!

I have included them here as a pdf file so you can see what I am talking about. Click here for -v8 supercar 2007 cards

Now this idea has huge potential – you just need to spend some time thinking about the interests and hobbies of your children and see how you can incorporate it into a set of cards.

What about a set of cards about – animals? countries? sports people? flags? solar sysyem? cars?

The ideas are limitless.

Share your ideas with us – use the comments

Rachel Larkin

Easter Fun

Here is a great e-book full with over 30 pages of Easter fun!

Have a look at the table of contents -

• Easter Games & Activities
• Easter Craft Ideas
• Step by Step Face Painting Photos & Instructions to turn your Child into a Cute Little Bunny
• Easter Coloring Fun and Printable Activity Sheets

I have had a look at this great resource and it is perfect for creating some easter fun. I am certainly going to give some of the activities a go – maybe even paint an egg or two!

Here is the link to find out more about it – It is only $7us – a bargain!
Click Here to have some Easter Fun!

Have Fun!

Rachel Larkin

No Worries Mate!

Hi There!

There is a common expression where I live (“down under”) -It is No Worries!.

Some people use it all the time – its sort of means, ‘don’t be concerned, I’ve got it covered’ or ‘it’s not worth being concerned about – no problem or no drama’.

You know what? – we can say “No Worries” to anybody who seems concerned about your homeschool program or lifestyle!, if we are leaning on God’s wisdom and guidance.

He is extremely interested in everything that goes on in our homes, from training the kids in how to wash and wipe the dishes to treating each other with kindness (instead of having a punch up! yes – I have boys).
In fact God actually has the perfect promise for homeschooling parents, He is so interested in our children that He promises to teach them everything they need to know!

Here it is -

Isaiah 54v13
“All your sons will be taught by the Lord…”
Wow! – that certainly takes the heat out of things, I can really say “No Worries!” God has got it covered. I just need to listen to his promptings and go with the flow.

But it gets better -God adds an extra cherry on the top of this promise -

“…and great will be your children’s peace”

God certianly thinks of everything – He will not only teach my boys (through me and circumstances) but also pour peace into their minds and hearts. If my home has an underlying atmosphere of peace not discord then their hearts will be teachable and life will definitely be NO WORRIES!

Rachel Larkin currently resides in New Zealand with her soul mate, Noel and their three awesome boys (aged 9 to 5). Rachel worked in the corporate world for ten years as a Chartered Accountant before coming home to homeschool her children. She has a passion for inspiring and encouraging women to partake of all that God has for them. Check out her website: http://www.Rachel-Larkin.com for more encouraging articles and Freebies.

Six Vital Things……

Here are My Six Vital Things to include in your kid’s day-

1. Meaningful work
2. Imaginative play
3. Good books
4. Beauty (art,music, nature)
5. Ideas to ponder and discuss
6. Prayer

What do you consider important?
Comments are welcome!

Rachel Larkin

Discovering your Child’s Passion

By Rachel Larkin

When we pulled our oldest boy out of school, the words “Mum I’m bored” was heard frequently in our home. He had only one year of state schooling and was already infected with the boredom disease. Schooling seemed to have taken away his ability to have ideas and plugged up his creativity. He wasn’t able to stop, relax and enjoy spending hours on a project or hobby. I guess the school routine didn’t allow for periods of thinking and ideas and tinkering time. Boys need tinkering time!

So I had to come up with a way to get the thinking of ideas going, ideas of what to make and ideas of what to do. We spent the first year of our home educating journey getting to know one another again. Just enjoying reading a book, going on field trips together and getting to know our local area. Over this time several interests and passions started to emerge, it was exciting to see his mind become active and the sparkle in his eyes when we discovered something new.

He developed a love of climbing Auckland’s volcanoes. We captured our volcano discoveries on film and he gathered information as we went. It was interesting to stand back and ponder what was motivating his love of mountains. At first I thought it was the act of climbing them but he always wanted to get to the top and wasn’t really concerned with the process of the climb. I then thought that it was the mountain itself and was directing him to books on rocks and the history of volcanos but it wasn’t really any of that, he showed an interest but it wasn’t his passion it wasn’t what was driving him. His underlying motivation was…. what he saw when he got to the top of the mountain!! – The cityscape below him, the roads interlocking, the busyness of the cars, the people like ants scurrying around, the areas of industrial factories compared to the residential streets. That was what was interesting him.

From this experience (which took place over a year) he has developed his passion of cities and has moved onto road maps. At the age of six and a half he had very advanced mapping skills, owned his own copies of the Auckland street map and the road code. He would have passed the road code test if he was allowed to sit it.!

How can mum spark an interest in her child? A start would be having a “productive free time” list. This is a list of activities that are fun and educational and may be the start of an interest or hobby for your child. I found various “productive free time” lists on the internet where other mums had composed a list of possible productive activities for their home educated children. I sat down with my son and together we went through the lists and came up with our own. The list was printed double spaced and we cut each item into a long strip. We placed the long strips into a special box. When we had reached a point in the day when he didn’t know what to do with himself he had to pick two or three pieces of paper from the box and decide on one activity.

Later on, when his decision making skills were more developed, the box was put aside and we had the printed list on the wall and he independently made a choice. The “productive free time” list had its place for a season and now we don’t seem to need it as the boys are fuelling their own passions.

Click to see the Larkin Family’s Productive Free Time List

Sowing Generously in Life

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” 2 Corinthians 9 v 6

How do we sow generously into the lives of our children?

Here are a couple of ideas:

• Get alongside your children and together learn how to do a chore. It’s a process. Show them each part of the chore over a period of time. The secret to training your children in a particular household chore is:

“You watch me do it, we do it together, you do it”

This may take one month or it may take a year depending on the child and the job. Be prepared for your child not to “get it” on the 1st time or the 2nd time or the 20th! It’s a process. Don’t get angry at them; make it a fun time, one on one with your child.

• See your child through Gods eyes.

A child bears the marks of the creator God on his or her soul, the imago dei, the image of God. Your child’s mind is preformatted and already loaded with an infinitely complex program, ready run out of the box, and just waiting for your instructions.

It’s not your responsibility to program your child, but rather to run the program that God has already put there. (excerpt from “Heartfelt Discipline” by Clay Clarkson)

In order to sow generously into your children’s hearts and lives you have to discover what “program” God has placed in your child by-

*Prayerfully discovering what your child’s love language is. Do they respond to

· receiving gifts? or

· words of encouragement? or

· an act of service? or

· physical touch? or

· quality time from you?

A helpful book in this area is “The five love languages of children” by Chapman & Campbell

• Find out what their learning style is.

If your child is having difficulties at school, don’t be in a hurry to label them with a learning difficulty. In most cases they may just have a different learning style to what schools cater to.

Learning in the school system is set up for an Auditory Sequential Learner, where the child learns by listening to the teacher up the front He also learns easily with a sequential format, where we start at one point and then move onto the next stage or point then the next and so on.

A Visual Spatial Learner may not be catered for in this environment, where they need to see and observe what the teacher is talking about. A Spatial Learner also would rather see the big picture, why are we learning this particular point? Where does it fit into the scheme of things?, before they can learn the details.

A very informative website on visual spatial children is www.visualspatial.org. The book “Upside-down Brilliance” by Linda Kreger Silverman has a very detailed list of resources to help this type of child and is highly recommended