It’s December; it’s Christmas. So, I’m thinking about gifts and toys and all of the fun things that children like and what they can do with those things. Last week, after my family decorated our Christmas tree, my fourteen-year-old daughter pulled out a set of Lincoln Logs and began...
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In the midst of failure, it is not always easy to see God’s purposes. About seven years ago, I was in a set routine. I had already experienced life as an engineer for a Fortune 500 company, as well as life as a high school math teacher for everything...
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Recently, during my seven-year-old’s annual checkup at the pediatrician’s office, the nurse was asking him to answer a list of prescribed questions prior to the doctor coming in. It went something like this: Nurse: “What’s the name of your school?” My son: *blank stare* Somewhat impatiently, the nurse repeats: “The...
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For what should be the end of music if not the love of beauty? – Plato When I took piano lessons, I hated doing music theory. I did not see that my stumbling and fumbling over pieces that required sight-reading and other knowledge of music theory was a result of...
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A virgin conceived. A carpenter believed. Shepherds dutifully tended their flocks and angels joyfully followed their orders. God’s messengers made announcements from high in the heavens while a young couple made preparations in a lowly stable. A baby was born—rather the baby was born. The King of Kings left his throne...
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The Peacemaker Monthly Part Two – Get the Log Out of Your Eye The Peace Instruction Manual by Cara McLauchlan “When we overlook the wrongs of others, we are imitating God’s extraordinary forgiveness towards us.” – The Peacemaker, page 82 With the holiday season in full swing, there is nothing like...
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Students who learn differently will need a lot of support through adolescence, whatever their learning environment. One of the things that parents will do well to remember when evaluating the fitness of Classical Conversations Challenge classes for their children is that students with attention and social difficulties will need...
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Our lives are full of entertainment. One can scarcely imagine a day without music, YouTube, Facebook, movies, Netflix, NFL, 19 Kids and Counting, video games, and iPods. It seems as though all our time is caught up with some form of entertainment. In the old days, entertainment consisted of...
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Last year, our homeschool community, Classical Conversations, introduced the Lost Tools of Writing program as parts of the seventh and eighth grade curricula. This was a good, good thing. I am no expert in the Lost Tools curriculum or in the application of all it has to offer, but...
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“If you are willing I will be there.” Thus the gracious, tender voice of the Holy Spirit came. It was May 2013 and I was at a homeschool convention. I went for one reason: to research math curricula. However, twenty-four hours later I found myself on the threshold of...
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Yesterday was our Challenge II museum field trip. It is part of an assignment for students to research and present about a favorite work of art. I take our class to the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. every year and every visit makes our hearts flutter with the excitement...
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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It ranks high because I love good food and good fellowship. Thanksgiving, of course, incorporates both of those for many of us. Living in North Carolina, but with most of our family in Florida, Thanksgiving is our annual pilgrimage home to visit...
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