Common Sense Excellence

Common Sense Excellence:

Faith-Filled Education for Preschool to 5th Grade

Common Sense Excellence is a huge 231 page guidebook for home schooling in the preschool and elementary years.  It isn't just about one method of teaching or learning, but a blend of techniques and resources that can be mixed and matched to bring your children an excellent education at home!

Below you will find an excerpt from the first chapter. If you would like to view the Table of Contents just scroll down to the bottom of this page.  You can click here to read blog posts excerpted from Common Sense Excellence.

You can read reviews of Common Sense Excellence by clicking these links:

Common Sense Excellence review in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Common Sense Excellence review at Homeschooling from the Heart

 Here is the first chapter, my introduction to the book!

WHAT IS COMMON SENSE EXCELLENCE?

 

Common Sense Excellence is an approach to faith-filled education for the preschool and elementary years.  There is nothing new under the sun, so I can’t take credit for all of these ideas!  This book is the ripe fruit of two decades of research and practical application of Christian home education with my own ten children.

 COMMON SENSE 

 

I say common sense because I think that real education has often been obscured by educationalese jargon and artificial techniques.  These may be necessary for a public school classroom in a pluralistic, bureaucratic society, but for educating my own children in my own home, I have found the need to go back and strip away my preconceptions about what education really is!  What is effective rather than merely efficient?  What are the most natural, uncomplicated, powerful methods of transferring information and inspiration to a young child?  It’s really common sense, if we can dig away the layers and get back to the core.  Education does not need to be difficult.  It does not need to be left to the “experts.”  God has supplied you with all the IQ and love you need to be your child’s prime teacher. You just need to tap into it and nurture it!  If you are a brand new or prospective home school mom, please don’t stress out about teaching kindergarten.  The only possible way you could mess up is to put so much pressure on your child that he starts to dislike learning. If you relax and enjoy your child, and work at things bit by bit, you’ll both learn together just fine.  Trust me! 

 

EXCELLENCE

 

What about excellence?  This means giving our children the very best.  Not the most expensive, not the fanciest, not chasing the 99th percentile on standardized tests.  Just the BEST.  This means an investment of our time and energy, and yes, some of our hard-earned money.  This is the balance to my “relax” advice in the previous paragraph.  Though we shouldn’t stress out, we shouldn’t veg outor tune out either. We can’t have a laissez-faire (does that sound like lazy?) attitude toward our children’s education, especially as they move into the upper elementary grades. Mediocrity is no testimony to God’s working in us.  We are to“study to show ourselves approved” so that we can be salt and light for the generations who need the grace of God.  Though I believe home schooling to be the most promising approach to educating children, I have sadly seen many parents who just let their children float aimlessly, and then wonder why home schooling has gotten a bad rap from their family and friends.  Education must be intentional and focused.  We must pursue excellence. 

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE AUTHOR’S FAMILY 

 

Before we get into the rest of the book, I’d like to introduce myself a little. My name is Virginia Knowles.  I guess you already knew that.  OK, let’s try again. 

I married Thad in 1985, and shortly after that, we moved from Florida to Maryland and joined a church full of large home schooling families.  We were intrigued by the lifestyle, and the babies started rolling in.  We now have 10 children: Mary (born in 1987), Julia (1989), Rachel (1991), Joanna (1992), Lydia (1994), Andrew (1997), Micah (1999), Naomi (2001), Ben (2003) and Melody (2005). 

 

We have used many different teaching approaches and methods, which you will read about in the rest of this book.  For now, I would just like to say that my three older children (middle school and high school grades) are now more independent in their school work, requiring  minimal to moderate amount of help from me.  What I am really enjoying now is becoming more of a Mommy and teacher to my preschool and elementary grade children.  I am savoring again the sweet moments cuddled up on the couch with a pile of picture books, or pulling out the math manipulatives to demonstrate a new math concept, baking muffins with lots of young helpers, memorizing short Bible verses, and crouching down on the sidewalk watching ants.  

 

I’m in the middle of a renewal of common sense excellence in our own home education experience, and I invite you to join me!  Let me emphasize right here, before you get totally overwhelmed, that our home is not occupied by Super Family.  We all squabble and misbehave. We make lots of messes, and don’t always get them cleaned up promptly. We don’t always follow through on our lesson plans.  Just like anyone else, we need to work on our weaknesses, academic and otherwise.  And lest you think that we do everything in this book every year with every child, please think again!  These are merely techniques and approaches which have given us a good measure of success at one time or another, or that we have seen work wonderfully in other families.  So, if you are tempted to think that you could never do all of this stuff, you’re absolutely right.   Just pick and choose what will work with your family, and please don’t call me Super Mom!   (My own children know better!) 

 

THE BOOK’S FORMAT 

 

Let me give you a “heads up” about where we’re going in this book.   

 

Part 1: First, I will share some general educational philosophy, theories and approaches.   

 

Part 2: Subject by subject, I will get specific with some easy-on-mom, great-for-the-children methods of home education which have worked for countless home schooling families.   

 

Part 3: Finally, I will round out the book with a section covering school rooms, schedules, lesson planning, record keeping, evaluation, problem solving, learning away from home, and how to plan unit studies.  I’m sure you won’t agree with everything I say, but it should give you lots of food for thought! 

 

Chapter sub-headings:  These are listed at the very beginning of each chapter to let you know what you will be reading. 

 

Scripture:  You will find numerous Bible verses in each chapter.  I know there is a temptation to skim over these quickly, but don’t!  This is the good stuff!  Skip the rest of the book, if you have to, but read the Scriptures! 

 

Work samples: Also sprinkled at several places throughout the book you will find boxes labeled A Page from a 3rd Grade Notebook, which are representative of assignments which my oldest daughter did one year.  Mary was gracious enough to let me include them.    

 

Bullets: I have used bullets liberally throughout the book, as such:

Ø      Resource recommendations

q     Check lists of things for you or your child to do or get

·        General lists of information 

 

Grade levels: I also want to clarify what I mean when I refer to various grade levels, especially since some readers do not live in the United States and may operate under different systems.  For purposes of this book, preschool is from ages two to four, kindergarten at age five, 1st grade at age six, 2nd grade at age seven, 3rd grade at age eight, 4th grade at age nine, and 5th grade at age ten. That’s as far as the scope of this book goes. When I talk about primary grades, that is generally from kindergarten to 3rd grade, while older elementary students are in 4th and 5th grade.  There will obviously be some overlap in grade levels, since many topics are repeated and reviewed over the years, and each student is different anyway.  You will be the best judge of what activities and skills are appropriate for your own child!

 

Suppliers:  There is a list of home school suppliers at the end of the book.  I have also provided contact information for suppliers of various specific publishers of recommended resources throughout the book. 

 

Vintage quotes: At the end of each chapter, I have included a vintage quote to inspire you.  These are marked with a book icon: &. Methods and technology may have changed, but at the heart of it, real education stays the same!   

 

1-2-3 Ideas to Remember:  There is a very brief summary box at the end of each chapter to jog your memory about the key points. 

Enjoy the book!

 

&

 

“The entire object of true education is to make people

not merely to do the right things, but to enjoy them;

not merely industrious, but to love industry;

not merely learned, but to love knowledge;

not merely pure, but to love purity;

not merely just, but to hunger and thirst after justice.”

John Ruskin, 1819-1900, English writer, art critic, professor, reformer

 

1-2-3 Ideas to Remember About

Common Sense Excellence

 1    Use your common sense!   

            Education doesn’t need to be left to the experts!

 2   Aim for excellence!  Say NO to mediocrity!

 3   Help your children to love what they do.

Table of Contents  PART 1: COMMON SENSE EXCELLENCE What is Common Sense Excellence? Common Sense / 7 Excellence / 7 Introduction to the Author’s Family / 8 The Book’s Format / 9 Faith-Filled Education Goal #1: Glorify and Serve God / 11 Goal #2: Nurture True Godly Character / 12 Goal #3: Put Jesus at the Heart of Your Life and Home School / 13 Teaching Through the Years Treat Your Children as Blessings!  ...15 Set Solid Foundations for Life / 16 Respect the Ages and Stages of Childhood       Learning / 17 Settle Your Mind About Grade Levels .. 21 Figure Out How to Handle Multi-Level Teaching  / 22 Choosing Your Approach to Education Where Are You Coming From? / 25 Common Home Education Approaches ...27 Synthesizing Your Own Style / 29 Duty and Delight / 30 A Time and a Season for Everything / 32 PART 2: ACADEMIC SUBJECTS  Bible / 36 At the Start / 36 Bible Stories and Doctrine / 37 Bible Memory ...40 Personal Devotions / 42 Character Building / 43 Evangelism / 44 Integrating Bible Across Curriculum / 45 Literature / 48 Choosing Great Literature / 48 The Beauty of Reading Aloud / 51 How to Read Aloud and Enjoy It! / 52 Beyond Picture Books / 53 Literature Comprehension / 55 Poetry in Life and Education / 56 Integrating Literature Across Curriculum /  Language Arts Skills / 60 Oral Language / 62 Listening / 62 Speech / 63 Oral Composition / 65 Reading / 67 Learning to Read / 67 Reading to Learn / 71 Writing / 73 Handwriting / 73 Spelling & Vocabulary / 76 Grammar / 81         Written Composition / 82 Making Books / 91          Foreign Language / 92 Math / 95 How to Choose Math Curriculum / 96 Math Concepts and Skills to Teach / 97 Math Equipment and Supplies / 100 Using Math Flash Cards / 101 Math Teaching Tips and Techniques / 102 Integrating Math Across Curriculum / 107                                                          Social Studies / 110 Culture / 110 Civics / 114 History / 117 Geography / 126 Economics / 130 Science / 134 General Science / 134 Life Science / 137 Earth and Space / 148 Chemistry / 152 Physics / 155 Technology / 159 Health & Safety / 163 Nutrition / 163 Physical Fitness / 164 Hygiene / 167 First Aid / 168 Handicaps / 168 Medical Care / 170 Safety / 171 The Arts / 176 Visual Arts Appreciation / 176 Visual Arts Application  / 179 Performing Arts Appreciation / 183 Performing Arts Application / 185                                                 Life Skills / 188 Decision Making / 188 Courtesy / 190 Hospitality / 191 Household Chores / 191 Home Organization and Decoration / 193 Clothing Care / 193 Meal Times / 195 Money Management / 196 Office Skills / 198 Household Tools / 199 Gardening and Yard Care / 200 Travel and Transportation / 201                                              PART 3: PRACTICAL MATTERS Organization / 204 School Room / 204 Schedules / 206 Lesson Planning / 207 Record Keeping / 208 Evaluation / 210 Problem Solving Challenge #1: Academic Struggles / 213 Challenge #2: Distracted Child / 214 Challenge #3: Poor Relationship / 215 Challenge #4: Resistant/Lazy Attitudes / 215 Challenge #5: Lack of Confidence / 216 Challenge #6: Bickering Children / 217 Challenge #7: Overwhelmed Mom / 217 Education Away from Home / 220 Education in the Car / 220 Field Trips / 220 Classes and Other Learning Groups / 221 How to Plan a Unit Study / 224 What is a Unit Study? / 224 Steps for Planning a Unit Study / 225 Long Range Planning / 226 Unit Study Topic List / 227 Home School Suppliers / 229    EPILOGUE / 230 BIBLIOGRAPHY / 231 Ready to order?  Click here: Books by Virginia Knowles