PrincipledMom™

Today is Israel's 60th birthday. What a miracle this little country is! To celebrate this momentous occasion, there is lots of activity at the Jerusalem Post you can take part in, from sending Israel an E-card to viewing highlights of the last 60 years. You can also check out celebrations happening all around Israel.

 Our city has a sister city in Israel: Tiberias. This isn't really public knowledge I guess but I was glad to learn about it at last year's A Night to Honor Israel. If there is one planned anywhere in your area, consider going. It is a wonderful night to show solidarity with the American Jewish community and Israel as well.

Please take time today to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. For more info on how to get involved with Israel, visit CUFI or ICEJ.

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In my studies recently I happened upon a type of "notebooking" that was fascinating. It combines two of my favorite things--notebooks and traditional books (which I happen to be passionate about making!). I am such a book geek that I had to learn more.

Webster's 1828 dictionary defines it as:

Commonplace-book, a book in which are registered such facts, opinions or observations as are deemed worthy of notice or remembrance, so disposed that any one may be easily found. Hence common-place as used as an epithet to denote what is common or often repeated, or trite; as a commonplace observation.

It's taking a topic, such as sewing, literature, a branch of science or cooking and creating your own special book about it. It may include tables or charts, definitions, clippings, quotes, measurements or your observations. Some well known commonplacers included Thomas Jefferson, John Locke and Ben Franklin.  Jonathan Edwards also kept a commonplace book. 

Read more here here and here.

Some modern uses for commonplacing may be for remodeling your home, landscaping or gardening, scrapbooking, reading an important literary work, fiction writing or Bible study. They can be invaluable resources for a life full of learning. And they can become treasures that your kids can fight over after your funeral!

 And of course, I will endeavor to make some commonplace books that are uncommon. If you are interested in a unique commonplace book customized to your special topic, please contact me for details and I'll make a one of a kind commonplace book you will treasure for years to come. anna at annahawthorne dot com

Anna Hawthorne Studios

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I am hosting a history study here on my blog beginning Monday, April 7. The resources you need are these two books here (click the pics to purchase), along with a Bible. I also recommend a notebook, lots of notebook paper, 8 dividers and a nice pen. Since we use the notebook method in BPA, you know we always need more notebooks!

I will post on the week's lesson and then (hopefully) you will leave comments regarding the lesson, or link to your blog's post on the topic. My hope is to generate positive, insightful conversation regarding America's Christian history as we learnfrom these lessons.

There are 8 lessons, so we will take one each week and discuss it here and at our weekly Thursday night chats. I will add a new topic to my category list to make these lessons easy to find in the future, which is helpful if you can't study with us right now. I hope you will prayerfully consider joining me for this exciting study.

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I know I've already addressed planning lessons and all sorts of other things for HisStory, so please check the topic in the sidebar for all that good stuff. What I want to discuss is what your lesson should contain.

I like parameters, boundaries, limits. I like to know expectations and standards (which is another post coming soon!) so when I plan lessons I like to know what it is I'm supposed to do. I want to be a more spontaneous educator, but right now I have to work with the personality God gave me, which seems really boring at times. I love A Guide to American Christian Education for many many reasons, but one of them is all the suggestions and lists and helpful lesson planning stuff that's in that great book. One thing is the handy list that Mrs. Ruth Smith put together regarding HisStory lesson plans.

If you plan your HisStory lessons (and it works with any subject really), then you will have structure and hopefully the results you are after. The lesson should include 5 things:

1. Goal(s): (see GACE p. 204)
2. Content: what the lesson is to be about
3. Principles: one or more of the seven principles of America's Christian History and Government
4. Methodology: sources, notes to be taken, etc (recording)
5. Assignments

When I use the goals, together with this simple list, my planning is simple and focused and my lessons get results. Planning your own lessons is not a mysterious or overwhelming process. It is simply a matter of taking things one step at a time.

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In the younger grades I emphasize American His Story for several reasons:

•  We strive the think governmentally. Even young children can understand the principles inherent to America's founding. We can discuss cause to effect, internal to external and expand the principles as they grow. These principles apply to many things, but they are expressed in our form of government, so we can look there.
• Symbols of America are in all of society. We are surrounded with flags, portraits on money, sayings, holidays and more that lend themselves to curiosity and teachable moments.
• To restore America's Christian history.
• Children enjoy learning about their country. They want to know all about it; the geography, the founding, the Pilgrims and Presidents. We are all naturally curious to know about where we live.
• It is easy to find good literature related to American history.
• It can be easier for young children to relate to than ancient history.
• Because we are Americans. No matter what our family's heritage, we are Americans and should know our own heritage. This seems to cause a problem for a lot of people. If they were to hear about French or Peruvian children studying their histories they would encourage that. But somehow if we want to learn about our own country's Christian His Story, something is wrong.
• They can trace God's Providence readily, so it can be applied to other areas of their lives. They can follow it straight to themselves and see that they fit into God's plan for His Kingdom, America and the world.

To make myself clear, we follow the Chain of Christianity each year, so we do talk about all time periods from Creation to today, I simply choose to spend a little more time on American His Story in the younger grades.

When they are older we discuss the Greeks, Romans and other ancient history in depth when they are able to reason as we are thinking governmentally. I look forward to those days. I just hope I can keep up! lol

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