Category: Principles of True Education

Motivation Monday

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“Children are a heritage of the Lord, and are to be trained for his service. This is the work that rests upon parents and teachers with solemn, sacred force, which they cannot evade or ignore. To neglect this work marks them as unfaithful servants; but there is a reward when the seed of truth is early sown in the heart, and carefully tended.

Christ concludes the parable, “But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” When the harvest of the earth is reaped, we shall see the result of our toil; for we shall see those for whom we have labored and prayed gathered into the heavenly garner. So shall we enter into the joy of our Lord, when he shall “see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied.”

Special Testimonies on Education , pg. 72

Motivation Monday

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“Children are to be taught to respect their father and mother, and this education is to be given them by example as well as precept. When the father gives kind attention to the mother, and the mother shows reverence for the father, the children will be educated to love and reverence their parents. They will be enabled to keep the fifth commandment. ”

Manuscript Releases Vol. 13, pg 83

 

Motivation Monday

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“It is essential for parents to find useful employment for their children, which will involve the bearing of responsibilities as their age and strength will permit. The children should be given something to do that will not only keep them busy, but interest them. The active hands and brains must be employed from the earliest years. If parents neglect to turn their children’s energies into useful channels, they do them great injury; for Satan is ready to find them something to do.”

Special Testimonies on Education, 37, 38

Motivation Monday

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“Neither the church school nor the college affords the opportunities for establishing a child’s character building upon the right foundation that are afforded in the home.”

Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, pg 162

Motivation Monday

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“But remember that the child’s first school is the home. There it is to learn its most important lessons. Parents, remember that your home is a training school in which your children are to be prepared for the home above.

Deny them anything rather than the education that they should receive in their earliest years. Allow no word of pettishness. Teach your children to be kind and patient. Teach them to be thoughtful of others. Thus you are preparing them for higher ministry in religious things.”

Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10 pg. 325

Nature Study Week ~ The Spirtual Importance of Nature Study

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Today we share a collection of inspired quotes that remind us of the spiritual blessings to be gained from nature study.  Be sure to explore the links at the end for easy-to-implement ideas.

An Unfailing Source of Instruction—Next to the Bible, nature is to be our great lesson book. Testimonies For The Church 6:185.

Growth in Grace—Tell your children about the miracle-working power of God. As they study the great lesson book of nature, God will impress their minds. The farmer plows his land and sows his seed, but he cannot make the seed grow. He must depend on God to do that which no human power can do. The Lord puts His vital power into the seed, causing it to spring forth into life. Under His care the germ of life breaks through the hard crust encasing it, and springs up to bear fruit. First appears the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. As the children are told of the work that God does for the seed, they learn the secret of growth in grace.

Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 124, 125.

Nature Illustrates Bible Lessons—Many illustrations from nature are used by the Bible writers; and as we observe the things of the natural world, we shall be enabled, under the guiding of the Holy Spirit, more fully to understand the lessons of God’s Word.

Education, 120.

Nature and the Bible Were Jesus’ Textbooks—

His [Jesus’] education was gained from Heaven-appointed sources, from useful work, from the study of the Scriptures, from nature, and from the experiences of life—God’s lesson books, full of instruction to all who bring to them the willing hand, the seeing eye, and the understanding heart.

The Ministry of Healing, 400.

His intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures shows how diligently His early years were given to the study of God’s Word. And spread out before Him was the great library of God’s created works. He who had made all things studied the lessons which His own hand had written in earth and sea and sky. Apart from the unholy ways of the world, He gathered stores of scientific knowledge from nature. He studied the life of plants and animals, and the life of man. From His earliest years He was possessed of one purpose; He lived to bless others. For this He found resources in nature; new ideas of ways and means flashed into His mind as He studied plant life and animal life….
Thus to Jesus the significance of the Word and the works of God was unfolded, as He was trying to understand the reason of things. Heavenly beings were His attendants, and the culture of holy thoughts and communings was His. From the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing in spiritual grace and knowledge of truth.
Every child may gain knowledge as Jesus did. As we try to become acquainted with our heavenly Father through His Word, angels will draw near, our minds will be strengthened, our characters will be elevated and refined.

The Desire of Ages, 70.

Ideas for adding a spiritual component to your nature study:

Bible verses to add to a winter or spring nature journal –  Look under “Winter Journal” and “Spring Journal”

My Bible First : Nature Corner –  Nature object lessons with a Bible verse.  Great for copywork! **SDA resource

Child’s Nature Journal example with Bible verse

Clouds in the Heavens– Nature unit study based on Psalms 19:1.  Free nine-page printable.

Nature Provides Object Lessons –  A simple activity that lays the foundation of a wonderful Bible/nature study. **SDA resource.

Tomorrow:  How to “DO” nature study.

Nature Study Week ~ What is Nature Study?

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Nature Study is exactly what its name implies: a study of nature. At the same time, it is much more than simply watching grass grow. In terms of True Education, It is making a conscious choice to spend time in nature, discovering and gaining a deeper understanding of the wonders of creation and our Creator.

Busy modern life does not make much room for time in nature. Time exploring out-of-doors has been crowded out of our busy schedules. It is amazing to think that many children (and adults!) have no real understanding of the natural world around them. They may know the basics of how plants grow or that leaves change color in the fall from science textbooks, but they do not have an intimate personal knowledge of these processes. Hands-on nature time is more of a novelty than the norm. Sadly, there are many who have no idea what they are missing from not spending time in nature.

Nature study is much more than simply science. It is mathematical expression, a record of history, and inspiration for literature, music and fine art. Nature study is an opportunity  to sharpen the powers of observation, to enrich and broaden our homeschool studies and most importantly for us as Seventh-day Adventist families – to draw our hearts closer to our Creator.

This week is Nature Study Week on the AHE blog. Please join us each weekday for ideas, inspiration and resources that will help make nature study a valuable part of your homeschool program.  Tomorrow: The Spiritual Importance of Nature Study