I had been meaning for months to go through the teacher's manual with my husband and have him look over it, and especially to have him look at the Proverbs study and give his thoughts and ideas. But we never got around to it until the very night before we began, last Sunday. Our daughter had gone to sleep, leaving a rare chance to talk quietly and privately together about something for any length of time. '
My husband, knowing she was about to study Proverbs for First, had decided to do his own study of Proverbs during his lunch time at work. He was going to be starting that the same day as we began First. But he had still not seen which Proverbs she was going to be learning. So he went through the manual with me. First, he wanted to see which translation he would prefer that she learn these in. Although it is convenient to have them written as an example on the lined paper in the back, we prefer that she learn them in New King James... I wanted her to be able to recognize the words as being the same if she heard them preached at church or read them in her own Bible.
Then we went through the Proverbs one by one, and prayerfully decided which ones we would use and which we might replace with a different one that speaks to us. I can tell that these were carefully chosen by Marie, and they were all excellent. We didn't come away with any possible substitutions yet, but we will revisit this throughout the year. I do know that we will be adding Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." This is because she is responsible for some of our many pets... she personally feeds, waters and tends to two budgies, a guinea pig, four crayfish, a turtle, two rabbits, three cats; and she also feeds our small flock of chickens and helps with different aspects of care for some of our other pets. So this is something which applies to her! Not sure what we will substitute out, though.
After we had gone through them all and he had prayed over me for a good school year, we got ready for bed. He suddenly said, "You know, I need to do some of the teaching, to take on some leadership in this... to help you and to be an example to her. Maybe I can explain the Proverbs to her as each new one is introduced. I can teach her how to find the chapter and verse while I'm doing it, by helping her find it in her own Bible. And I can be sure to review each one with her throughout the week to help her memorize. But you can help her copy it and review it and all of that."
I am just giddy about this!
My husband has hesitated about being an active teacher in our homeschool in the past. He likes science but doesn't want to be the one to do long involved science experiments because he's tired after work. He feels like he can't teach phonics because he never learned phonics and actually loathed phonics instruction in school (despite being a GREAT reader). He knows he would not be patient enough with her in math because he is great at math and she has trouble with it... he knows he would expect too much too soon. He was absolutely supportive of homeschooling, and interested in what we were learning, but very hands-off.
But Bible? Oh, yes, he can teach Bible! He actually teaches Sunday School to 1st and 2nd grade boys, and works with this age group in AWANA (Sparks). He is so good at explaining Scripture so anyone can get it (that is, if it is something we are meant to actually
get and not one of the mysteries that will only be revealed later, if you know what I mean).
Yesterday (Day 2) was the first time Proverbs were mentioned in the teacher's manual. I just told Gail that Daddy was going to be going over this portion with her after supper. She looked intrigued... Daddy doing school?
And indeed, they sat together last night and he went over the introduction to Proverbs and then taught her the first portion of Proverbs 9:10. And he explained it so well, so gently and effectively... much better than I could. He had once studied and then preached a message about "the fear of the Lord" and so it was near to his heart and easy for him to expound.
I am so thankful for a husband who is willing to do this. He had always prayed with us and for us, encouraged us in Kindergarten, made it easy to get what we needed for school, been quick to go on a field trip related to our studies, and other things. He had always taught our daughter biblical principles and shared Scripture with her. But seeing him open the teacher's manual and then look up the Proverb with her and make it a time of real instruction specifically for her schooling... that was a special blessing!
I'm Shawna...
... a forgiven child of God since 1994 (age 16)
... happily wed to William since 1996
... mother of our long-awaited Gail (3/15/2006)
... missing 6 little ones (4 miscarriages, 2 ectopics)
... starting Rome to the Reformation this fall!
