It is amazing to see how many parents are abandoning their once "dearly held" conviction of a Christ centered education for their children. Whether it is the economy, the new charter or magnet school down the road, or the idea that "my child will have to face the world and the devil sometime anyway", we have a rash of changing ideals that govern the decision most impacting our children today.
While I cannot say that it is shocking, I must say that the present day movement away from Real Christian Schools is disturbing. While my school has enrolled as many this fall as we had at the end of last year, we are across our state and others seeing a huge wave of change. So what is the cause, who is the one to blame, why is it happening now?
The Bible says that "without Me ye can do nothing". (John 15:5) Yet so many parents are opting for the educational facility that seemingly prides itself on being Godless, without any teaching on Christ at all. How can they, it is forbidden. It is most certain that no matter what you believe the level of spirituality in your local public school district's school, IT IS NO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. No matte what your perceived virtue of the charter school in your area....it is a public / non -Christian School. It is a place where God is left out. On purpose. No appology.
Why the toughness. "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5)... that's why. Americans are proud enough to say, "we are doing great w/o God now, our kids will be great w/o later Him too". I say, sure, If you are of the belief that "doing nothing" is ok. You had them in a Christian school before because you really want to "do something" for them, and now you are, without realizing the destructive nature of your actions, dooming them to a "do nothing" education. Sorry, that is not my prognostication, it is Bible, and it is Truth. The real way to a productive life is also in the same verse " He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit..." Keep your children in a spiritual place. That is the priority.
I am certain I will be accused of saying that good Christian families have no possible way of rearing good kids since they have now put them in a non-Christian school. On the contrary, now you have the added possibility of rearing a child who thinks it is not as important to keep God first in every area of life, no matter the cost....for that is what you have shown them is acceptible thought.
I am not mad at you, I am instead very sad and disturbed. In my few decades of Christian Education, I have seen it too many times not to speak out. Too many families - that realize sometimes too late - that they have made a poor academic and spiritual choice for their family. Too many times I have set in the office with parents bringing children back to the Christian school, having now experienced personally what they were warned of before leaving (by me, and mostly by the Holy Spirit inside of them). Only now, we have the task of making up the gap caused by the missed time in good curriculum and around good Christian kids.
I am just saying, a non-Christian school is just that ... Non-Christian. Without Him we can do nothing. That has always been truth, and always will be the Truth. I want more for your child than any place else can offer. Nothing less will do.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What Convinced the Atheist that God Exists
DNA Evidence Convinces Atheist that God Does Exist
By Melvin Richardson
Have you ever been in an argument or a discussion and you tried to convince someone that your point of view was correct? As you struggled with the argument it was apparent that you needed some concrete evidence in order for you to make a valid point and get this person to think along the lines of what you felt was right. So you lined up all your ducks in a row and presented you case in as convincing a way as possible. Finally, when you had all of your facts straight, up to the point where the person who you were trying to convince began to at least listen. Only to have something come along that completely cast doubt on what you were talking about. And as strong as you felt your point of view was it now paled in comparison to the other point of view, based on the new evidence.
Well this exactly what happened to Dr. Anthony Flew.
There was this guy, by the name of Dr. Antony Flew, who was an atheist and he was known for arguing and debating with various individuals trying to get them to believe in his atheist point of view. Only one problem, he ended up changing his mind because of DNA evidence. After everything was said and done he gave in to the fact that there must be some supreme intelligence behind the origin of life. He likened DNA to a computer program. When you have a computer program it consists of codes or ones and zeros which is called a binary program. It's the arrangement of these ones and zeros that establish the computer program and ultimately tell the computer what to do or how to perform.
a.) According to www.everystudent.com, in the same way, DNA is made up of four chemicals, abbreviated as letters A, T, G, and C. The sequencing of these letters tells the cell how to behave. Much like the ones and zeros, these letters are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. The order in which they are arranged instructs the cell's actions. Within the tiny space in every cell in your body is a code three billion letters long!!
Dr. Flew understood that a computer program cannot just exist on it's own. It has to have a creator and therefore intelligent design is the only answer. He stated that this DNA program was the most complex he had ever seen.
This is very powerful information when you consider here is an individual that has a conviction about a certain concept or idea only to have his belief completely shattered or totally eradicated.
Share that with your unbelieving family and fellow students!!
By Melvin Richardson
Have you ever been in an argument or a discussion and you tried to convince someone that your point of view was correct? As you struggled with the argument it was apparent that you needed some concrete evidence in order for you to make a valid point and get this person to think along the lines of what you felt was right. So you lined up all your ducks in a row and presented you case in as convincing a way as possible. Finally, when you had all of your facts straight, up to the point where the person who you were trying to convince began to at least listen. Only to have something come along that completely cast doubt on what you were talking about. And as strong as you felt your point of view was it now paled in comparison to the other point of view, based on the new evidence.
Well this exactly what happened to Dr. Anthony Flew.
There was this guy, by the name of Dr. Antony Flew, who was an atheist and he was known for arguing and debating with various individuals trying to get them to believe in his atheist point of view. Only one problem, he ended up changing his mind because of DNA evidence. After everything was said and done he gave in to the fact that there must be some supreme intelligence behind the origin of life. He likened DNA to a computer program. When you have a computer program it consists of codes or ones and zeros which is called a binary program. It's the arrangement of these ones and zeros that establish the computer program and ultimately tell the computer what to do or how to perform.
a.) According to www.everystudent.com, in the same way, DNA is made up of four chemicals, abbreviated as letters A, T, G, and C. The sequencing of these letters tells the cell how to behave. Much like the ones and zeros, these letters are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. The order in which they are arranged instructs the cell's actions. Within the tiny space in every cell in your body is a code three billion letters long!!
Dr. Flew understood that a computer program cannot just exist on it's own. It has to have a creator and therefore intelligent design is the only answer. He stated that this DNA program was the most complex he had ever seen.
This is very powerful information when you consider here is an individual that has a conviction about a certain concept or idea only to have his belief completely shattered or totally eradicated.
Share that with your unbelieving family and fellow students!!
Endurance
CONDITIONED TO ENDURE
2 Tim. 2:3
Verse 3 says, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of JesusChrist.
"Tozer said, "In our eagerness to make converts I am afraid we have lately been guilty of using the technique of modern salesmanship, which is of course to present only the desirable qualities in a product and ignore the rest. We go to men and offer them a cozy home on the sunny side of the brae(hill). If they will be accept Christ He will give them peace of mind, solve their problems, prosper their business, protect their families and keep them happy all day long. They believe us and come, and the first cold wind sends them shivering to some counselor to find out what has gone wrong; and thatis the last we hear of many of them."
I continue to quote Tozer: "The teachings of Christ reveal Him to be arealist in the finest meaning of that word. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find anything visionary or over optimistic. He told His hearers the whole truth and let them make up their minds. He might grieve over the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face up to the truth, but He never ranafter him to try to win him with rosy promises. He would have men follow Him, knowing the cost, or He would let them go their ways.""All this is but to say that Christ is honest. We can trust Him. He knows that He will never be popular among the sons of Adam and He knows that His followers need not expect to be. The wind that blows in His face will befelt by all who travel with Him, and we are not intellectually honest when we try to hide that face from them."Jesus conditioned His followers to endure. We should do not less. There is that temptation to soften by our presentation the harsh reality of "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." We who believe the gospel love the lost and desire their conversion and know if they truly experience it, they will be able to see things from our viewpoint. Salvation does bring a new power of perception of spiritual things. But in stark reality the change that brings about this change cannot take place unless the candidate hasbeen told the naked truth without any softening of the message. Jesus was not a modern psychologist who had figured out a way to slip in the Sword without pain. The message of the cross offends the natural man (Gal. 5:11).The Bible is a Two Edged Sword: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful,and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunderof soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thethoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
A friend of mine told about a lady who had wandered out of an alley screaming for help. She had her insides in her hands and said, "I've been gutted. Someone call for help."Well, when the Word of God penetrates deeper than anything has ever been.You are brought by it to the brink of the abyss and you are given the opportunity to accept or reject God's remedy. Jesus always gave those with whom He dealt the opportunity to say no without begging for a change ofmind. Now to the over zealous, this will be offensive.
Just remember this."He that is persuaded against his will is of the same persuasion still."
I believe the churches are being filled with people who have never repented and have been told that they can have all of this down here and heaven to."God wants you to be prosperous. God does not want you to be sick. Send meyour money and I'll pray for you, etc., etc." This is not what the Bible teaches. Jesus had a tough message for the present life. He informed His disciples that they would be persecuted.Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hatedyou. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because yeare not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore theworld hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is notgreater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecuteyou; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all thesethings will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not himthat sent me." Jesus is clear in His message. He is conditioning them to endure. He does this by telling them, "IF the world hate you (and it will), ye know that it hated me before it hated you." Jesus is telling them in advance that becoming my disciples has put you at odds with the world around you. The world hates me and since I am going to relive my life through you after I am gone they are going to hate you as they hate me. They are going to express that hatred toward you in the same way they have expressed it toward me. If you are a Christian, you have been conditioned to endure. Are youenduring?
2 Tim. 2:3
Verse 3 says, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of JesusChrist.
"Tozer said, "In our eagerness to make converts I am afraid we have lately been guilty of using the technique of modern salesmanship, which is of course to present only the desirable qualities in a product and ignore the rest. We go to men and offer them a cozy home on the sunny side of the brae(hill). If they will be accept Christ He will give them peace of mind, solve their problems, prosper their business, protect their families and keep them happy all day long. They believe us and come, and the first cold wind sends them shivering to some counselor to find out what has gone wrong; and thatis the last we hear of many of them."
I continue to quote Tozer: "The teachings of Christ reveal Him to be arealist in the finest meaning of that word. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find anything visionary or over optimistic. He told His hearers the whole truth and let them make up their minds. He might grieve over the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face up to the truth, but He never ranafter him to try to win him with rosy promises. He would have men follow Him, knowing the cost, or He would let them go their ways.""All this is but to say that Christ is honest. We can trust Him. He knows that He will never be popular among the sons of Adam and He knows that His followers need not expect to be. The wind that blows in His face will befelt by all who travel with Him, and we are not intellectually honest when we try to hide that face from them."Jesus conditioned His followers to endure. We should do not less. There is that temptation to soften by our presentation the harsh reality of "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." We who believe the gospel love the lost and desire their conversion and know if they truly experience it, they will be able to see things from our viewpoint. Salvation does bring a new power of perception of spiritual things. But in stark reality the change that brings about this change cannot take place unless the candidate hasbeen told the naked truth without any softening of the message. Jesus was not a modern psychologist who had figured out a way to slip in the Sword without pain. The message of the cross offends the natural man (Gal. 5:11).The Bible is a Two Edged Sword: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful,and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunderof soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thethoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
A friend of mine told about a lady who had wandered out of an alley screaming for help. She had her insides in her hands and said, "I've been gutted. Someone call for help."Well, when the Word of God penetrates deeper than anything has ever been.You are brought by it to the brink of the abyss and you are given the opportunity to accept or reject God's remedy. Jesus always gave those with whom He dealt the opportunity to say no without begging for a change ofmind. Now to the over zealous, this will be offensive.
Just remember this."He that is persuaded against his will is of the same persuasion still."
I believe the churches are being filled with people who have never repented and have been told that they can have all of this down here and heaven to."God wants you to be prosperous. God does not want you to be sick. Send meyour money and I'll pray for you, etc., etc." This is not what the Bible teaches. Jesus had a tough message for the present life. He informed His disciples that they would be persecuted.Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hatedyou. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because yeare not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore theworld hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is notgreater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecuteyou; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all thesethings will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not himthat sent me." Jesus is clear in His message. He is conditioning them to endure. He does this by telling them, "IF the world hate you (and it will), ye know that it hated me before it hated you." Jesus is telling them in advance that becoming my disciples has put you at odds with the world around you. The world hates me and since I am going to relive my life through you after I am gone they are going to hate you as they hate me. They are going to express that hatred toward you in the same way they have expressed it toward me. If you are a Christian, you have been conditioned to endure. Are youenduring?
Monday, September 15, 2008
What A Great Guy
DO YOU REMEMBER THIS GUY --Reagan
'Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.' - Ronald Reagan
'The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' -Ronald Reagan
'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' Ronald Reagan
'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.' - Ronald Reagan
'I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.' - Ronald Reagan
-'Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.' - Ronald Reagan
'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.' - Ronald Reagan
'Government's view of th e economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.' - Ronald Reagan
'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.' Ronald Reagan
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' - Ronal d Reagan
'Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.' - Ronald Reagan
'The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' -Ronald Reagan
'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' Ronald Reagan
'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.' - Ronald Reagan
'I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.' - Ronald Reagan
-'Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.' - Ronald Reagan
'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.' - Ronald Reagan
'Government's view of th e economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.' - Ronald Reagan
'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.' Ronald Reagan
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' - Ronal d Reagan
What some schools are hiding
" All schools, all colleges, have two great functions: to confer, and to conceal, valuable knowledge. The theological knowledge which they conceal cannot justly be regarded as less valuable than that which they reveal. That is, when a man is buying a basket of strawberries it can profit him to know that the bottom half of it is rotten."
The above paragraph is a quote from Mark Twain, about public schools holding back some knowledge while saying they are presenting and teaching everything. While I am not on the attack with this article, I am trying to get us to realize that the power of concealing is just as great as the power of revealing. Twain is saying that the reason some schools hold back Theological knowledge and teaching, is that they consider it less valuable than secular knowledge. Therefore teaching young people to value what the school says is valuable and not what the parents and the Bible put forth as valuable. For example, knowing who is making the environment a priority is more valuable to some Public Educators than knowing Who made the environment. They will major on teaching sex ed, while refusing to teach the most effective measure of sexual health that we find in Biblical teaching…. Abstinence until marriage. And while science proves and supports facts regarding the Biblical accounts of the flood and even creation (intelligent design to some), the folks who run academia will conceal this knowledge fearing that its revelation will keep the students from believing their evolutionary teaching. Many in public education will insist on teaching "alternative lifestyles" to young people and refuse to teach principles that promote real character filled lifestyles. You know, of course, that I could go on and on….
The other dangerous side of this argument is that the public system of education, while concealing good truth, is then revealing much to our youngest generation that is poisoning their value systems. That is the stuff they should be concealing! Most of what they "know", I cannot allow to be taught to my child.
The analogy used here by Mark Twain makes a great point about teaching. What is wrong with teaching all truth, and just the truth? Why are there some in our education community who would seek to conceal truth, and instead teach falsehood?
We know that the scripture teaches us in John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Then, Teaching the opposite of truth - produces the opposite of freedom.
Our children need truth taught to them so that we get right decisions from them that produce freedom in their lives.
God Bless you and your family,
Joe
The above paragraph is a quote from Mark Twain, about public schools holding back some knowledge while saying they are presenting and teaching everything. While I am not on the attack with this article, I am trying to get us to realize that the power of concealing is just as great as the power of revealing. Twain is saying that the reason some schools hold back Theological knowledge and teaching, is that they consider it less valuable than secular knowledge. Therefore teaching young people to value what the school says is valuable and not what the parents and the Bible put forth as valuable. For example, knowing who is making the environment a priority is more valuable to some Public Educators than knowing Who made the environment. They will major on teaching sex ed, while refusing to teach the most effective measure of sexual health that we find in Biblical teaching…. Abstinence until marriage. And while science proves and supports facts regarding the Biblical accounts of the flood and even creation (intelligent design to some), the folks who run academia will conceal this knowledge fearing that its revelation will keep the students from believing their evolutionary teaching. Many in public education will insist on teaching "alternative lifestyles" to young people and refuse to teach principles that promote real character filled lifestyles. You know, of course, that I could go on and on….
The other dangerous side of this argument is that the public system of education, while concealing good truth, is then revealing much to our youngest generation that is poisoning their value systems. That is the stuff they should be concealing! Most of what they "know", I cannot allow to be taught to my child.
The analogy used here by Mark Twain makes a great point about teaching. What is wrong with teaching all truth, and just the truth? Why are there some in our education community who would seek to conceal truth, and instead teach falsehood?
We know that the scripture teaches us in John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Then, Teaching the opposite of truth - produces the opposite of freedom.
Our children need truth taught to them so that we get right decisions from them that produce freedom in their lives.
God Bless you and your family,
Joe
Friday, November 2, 2007
"How do I improve my child's reading grade?"
I often hear from parents the question, " How do we improve my child’s reading grade?" While the response is primarily how to improve the child’s reading itself, it still works for both. Below are some tips to do just that. Let’s see if some of them will help us. Even if your child is getting a great reading grade, these suggestions are some excellent ideas an will help improve your reading time together. The best point of all is at the bottom of these 2 pages. Don’t forget to read it. ****
You have a big influence on your child when you spend time reading together. Experts in child literacy are unanimous in their belief that parents should
read with their children. The power of the parent-child bond has a positive effect on a child's attitude toward reading and his ability to read. The suggestions below will help you learn how to make reading with your child both a pleasure and a learning experience.
1. Choose the right book using the "Five-Finger Rule." Have your child open the book to any page in the middle of the book and read that page. Each time she comes to a word she does not know she should hold up one finger. If she gets to five fingers before she finishes reading the page, the book could be too hard. If she doesn’t hold up any fingers, the book is probably easy for your child and can be used to build reading fluency. If she holds up two or three fingers, the book is likely to be a good level for her reading to grow.
2. Use "sound" strategies to tackle a new word. Ask your child to sound out an unknown word. Look at the letters in a difficult word and have your child pronounce each sound, or "phoneme." Then see if he can blend the sounds together to pronounce the word. Help him memorize irregular words. Explain that words like "where," "hour" or "sign" are hard to sound out since they don't follow normal sound patterns. Point these words out when you're reading to help your child learn to recognize them on his own. Use suffixes, prefixes, and root words. If your child knows the word "day," guide him to define new words like "yesterday" or "daily." Similarly, if he knows what "pre" means, it's easy to learn new words like "prepare" or "preschool."
3. Use the story to help your child learn.
Ask your child what word or idea would make sense in the plot of the story when he gets stuck on an unfamiliar word. Encourage your child to look at illustrations, pictures, titles or graphs to figure out the meaning of new words.
4. Give support and encouragement.
Challenge your child to figure out new words, but always supply the word before he becomes frustrated. After your child has read a story, reread it aloud yourself, so that he can enjoy it without interruption.
5. Be a good role model. Let your child see you reading, and share your excitement when you enjoy a great book of your own.
6. Make reading a priority. Whether it's 10 minutes every night before bed or an hour every Sunday morning, it helps to set aside a specific time for reading. This kind of special "together time" can go a long way in getting your child interested in books.
7. Create the right atmosphere. Find a quiet comfortable place to listen to your children read. While you don't need to build a special reading nook, it helps to ensure that even in a busy home, there's a quiet place for reading.
8. Make reading fun. Kids may not get excited at the idea of quiet time spent curled up on the couch. Why not make it fun by turning reading sessions into impromptu theater performances? Play around with funny voices to impersonate animals or unusual characters in stories. You'll get to release some tension and your child will learn to think of reading as fun rather than work.
9. Keep reading aloud to your child. Don't stop reading aloud to your child once she learns to read by him/herself. When you take a turn at reading, you let your child enjoy books that are beyond her independent reading level and build her vocabulary by exposing her to new words. Reading aloud is also a chance for you to model reading smoothly and with expression.
10. Introduce new books. Each year there is one book that seems to steal the hearts and minds of all children. While it may seem it's the only book your child wants to read, it's important to remember that there are millions of books that will suit your child's interests and capture his imagination and still meet your standards of what is appropriate reading. Use these resources to help your child find great books.
**** Remember, the best way for us to improve your child’s reading grade and his/her reading overall, is simply to read more!! I know it sounds like over-simplification and dismissiveness, but it’s not. It is the basic truth to all learning and improvement in education…Repetition is the Key to Learning. The more I do it, the better I get at it. Reading More = Reading Better.
May God continue to bless you and your family.
Joe Tarr
Principal
You have a big influence on your child when you spend time reading together. Experts in child literacy are unanimous in their belief that parents should
read with their children. The power of the parent-child bond has a positive effect on a child's attitude toward reading and his ability to read. The suggestions below will help you learn how to make reading with your child both a pleasure and a learning experience.
1. Choose the right book using the "Five-Finger Rule." Have your child open the book to any page in the middle of the book and read that page. Each time she comes to a word she does not know she should hold up one finger. If she gets to five fingers before she finishes reading the page, the book could be too hard. If she doesn’t hold up any fingers, the book is probably easy for your child and can be used to build reading fluency. If she holds up two or three fingers, the book is likely to be a good level for her reading to grow.
2. Use "sound" strategies to tackle a new word. Ask your child to sound out an unknown word. Look at the letters in a difficult word and have your child pronounce each sound, or "phoneme." Then see if he can blend the sounds together to pronounce the word. Help him memorize irregular words. Explain that words like "where," "hour" or "sign" are hard to sound out since they don't follow normal sound patterns. Point these words out when you're reading to help your child learn to recognize them on his own. Use suffixes, prefixes, and root words. If your child knows the word "day," guide him to define new words like "yesterday" or "daily." Similarly, if he knows what "pre" means, it's easy to learn new words like "prepare" or "preschool."
3. Use the story to help your child learn.
Ask your child what word or idea would make sense in the plot of the story when he gets stuck on an unfamiliar word. Encourage your child to look at illustrations, pictures, titles or graphs to figure out the meaning of new words.
4. Give support and encouragement.
Challenge your child to figure out new words, but always supply the word before he becomes frustrated. After your child has read a story, reread it aloud yourself, so that he can enjoy it without interruption.
5. Be a good role model. Let your child see you reading, and share your excitement when you enjoy a great book of your own.
6. Make reading a priority. Whether it's 10 minutes every night before bed or an hour every Sunday morning, it helps to set aside a specific time for reading. This kind of special "together time" can go a long way in getting your child interested in books.
7. Create the right atmosphere. Find a quiet comfortable place to listen to your children read. While you don't need to build a special reading nook, it helps to ensure that even in a busy home, there's a quiet place for reading.
8. Make reading fun. Kids may not get excited at the idea of quiet time spent curled up on the couch. Why not make it fun by turning reading sessions into impromptu theater performances? Play around with funny voices to impersonate animals or unusual characters in stories. You'll get to release some tension and your child will learn to think of reading as fun rather than work.
9. Keep reading aloud to your child. Don't stop reading aloud to your child once she learns to read by him/herself. When you take a turn at reading, you let your child enjoy books that are beyond her independent reading level and build her vocabulary by exposing her to new words. Reading aloud is also a chance for you to model reading smoothly and with expression.
10. Introduce new books. Each year there is one book that seems to steal the hearts and minds of all children. While it may seem it's the only book your child wants to read, it's important to remember that there are millions of books that will suit your child's interests and capture his imagination and still meet your standards of what is appropriate reading. Use these resources to help your child find great books.
**** Remember, the best way for us to improve your child’s reading grade and his/her reading overall, is simply to read more!! I know it sounds like over-simplification and dismissiveness, but it’s not. It is the basic truth to all learning and improvement in education…Repetition is the Key to Learning. The more I do it, the better I get at it. Reading More = Reading Better.
May God continue to bless you and your family.
Joe Tarr
Principal
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Faint
Isaiah 40:29,
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no mighthe increaseth strength."
The word power is "kowach" and according to Strong, "from an unused rootmeaning to be firm; to faint; and to them that have no might he increasethstrength." This is physical strength. Are you tired to the point ofexhaustion? This happened to Christ and His disciples. This verse is aboutan exhausted Christian and the way to regain his strength.Have you ever said, "I am so weary I wonder if I can get through the day? Ifyou haven't just wait, you will. When we start getting old we gradually lose our strength and wonder what is happening. One day Julia Ward Howe slumped into a chair, saying, "I am tired---tiredway down into the future." I'm sure some who read this can understand fromexperience what she is saying. God, who by His power created the universe and all that is in it, "Says,'Look up into the heavens! Who created the universe. God with that kind ofpower will use it to give rest when we need it.This same all-powerful God is the source of our strength. Psalms 62:11, "Godhath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God."He has an inexhaustible supply. God knows how easily we faint and become discouraged when the storms beat upon our lives. It is not His purpose that we faint or grow weary. His promise of power and strength is for the weak. This may seem strange, butthe Lord of life spent most of His time with the weak.This power is a gift from God. "He giveth" power to the faint. The secret to obtaining this power is to wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31, "But they thatwait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up withwings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, andnot faint."
Someone has said, "
The power behind a Christian is greater than the troublesbefore Him.
May the Lord bless you with these words.
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no mighthe increaseth strength."
The word power is "kowach" and according to Strong, "from an unused rootmeaning to be firm; to faint; and to them that have no might he increasethstrength." This is physical strength. Are you tired to the point ofexhaustion? This happened to Christ and His disciples. This verse is aboutan exhausted Christian and the way to regain his strength.Have you ever said, "I am so weary I wonder if I can get through the day? Ifyou haven't just wait, you will. When we start getting old we gradually lose our strength and wonder what is happening. One day Julia Ward Howe slumped into a chair, saying, "I am tired---tiredway down into the future." I'm sure some who read this can understand fromexperience what she is saying. God, who by His power created the universe and all that is in it, "Says,'Look up into the heavens! Who created the universe. God with that kind ofpower will use it to give rest when we need it.This same all-powerful God is the source of our strength. Psalms 62:11, "Godhath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God."He has an inexhaustible supply. God knows how easily we faint and become discouraged when the storms beat upon our lives. It is not His purpose that we faint or grow weary. His promise of power and strength is for the weak. This may seem strange, butthe Lord of life spent most of His time with the weak.This power is a gift from God. "He giveth" power to the faint. The secret to obtaining this power is to wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31, "But they thatwait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up withwings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, andnot faint."
Someone has said, "
The power behind a Christian is greater than the troublesbefore Him.
May the Lord bless you with these words.
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