Use these images to illustrate Bible stories or to illustrate a lesson from a Heart of Wisdom Unit Study. Each image is a png or jpg file at least 200 PPI to 300 for print quality.

Remember the felt boards and characters–this is the upgrade for the digital age!

This digital collection includes:

• Bible Backgrounds (14 Papers or Backgrounds: the desert, wilderness, temple, shoreline, fields, hillside, etc.)
• Bible People (7 men and 7 women fully dressed)
• Hebrew Paper Dolls with Costumes ( 5 people with 33 items of clothing, shoes, hair, etc)
• Bible Objects (scroll, menorah, lamp, ark, wheat, pottery, bread, etc.)

This is a DOWNLOADABLE PRODUCT. When you complete your purchase, you will receive (via email) notice to look into your customer download area. There you will find directions to download your product files another download area (designed for large files). You have access to this download for 48 hours.We strongly recommend you make a back up copy on CD.

HOLY COW!
Does God Care About What We Eat?  

Jewish believer Hope Egan’s attention-grabbing personal story as she takes you on a journey through what the Bible says about eating meat.

She shares the challenges she had to face when she tried to share her new found Bible truth to her husband.

This book is a simple-to-understand overview in plain words the differences between clean and unclean meats.

The author presents a balanced explanation of eating biblically and explains where some of the non-biblical traditions (such as separating milk and meat) come from. Egan addresses the verses that most Christians use to rationalize that all foods are clean (Mark 7 and Acts 10). She uses basic hermeneutic principles to properly interpret the text.

Eagan is very clear that our diets are not a salvation issue while also encourages obedience to God’s Word. I highly recommend this fine book.

Hope helps you see how science and Scripture brilliantly intertwine. Promoting neither legalism nor vegetarianism, Holy Cow! gently challenges you to take a fresh look at how you live out your faith!

PLUS: Man Alive! There’s More! in addition extra pages are included by by FFOZ Educational Director and Bible teacher D. Thomas Lancaster, Man Alive!

 Click to Purchase Ebook or Click to Purchase Paperback

Does God Care What We Eat?

Article by Jennifer Schuchmann from Christianity Today 2006.

Are the Old Testament’s strict food laws relevant for today’s church?

Absolutely, says Messianic Jewish author Hope Egan.

The petite, 5-foot-4 woman stepped up to the podium at a Chicago church and lowered the microphone; her auburn curls framed the gentle smile on her face. Hope Egan doesn’t look like a revolutionary, but her recent book, Holy Cow! Does God Care About What We Eat?, and her passionate endorsement of Old Testament food laws for today’s New Testament Christians have been stirring up discussion wherever she goes.

This crowd of 200 Christian women listened intently as Egan shared her struggles with compulsive eating, her discovery of a “biblically kosher” diet, and God’s role in the journey.

“I was consumed with thoughts of food,” she began. At work, she visited the candy machine several times a day. Though she sat at the same table when eating with others, she wasn’t fully present. Instead, she fixated on the food, obsessing about something as simple as a plate of cookies: How many should I eat? We each get three, but I’ve already eaten my three; there won’t be enough if I eat more. Why aren’t they eating their share of the cookies? Don’t they like these cookies? Will anyone notice if I eat just one more?

Faith in food

Hope grew up in a secular Jewish community where faith was more cultural than religious. “When I was little, I remember asking my parents whether we were Jewish or Christian because I would forget” she says.

Like most of her Jewish girlfriends, she attended synagogue, took Hebrew lessons, and had a Bat Mitzvah. For Hope, the best part of synagogue was the location–across the street from Carson’s Ribs, home of her favorite meal. While the family dabbled in celebrating religious holidays, Hope’s memories are of the food, not the faith. “God just wasn’t on our radar screen” she says.

Hope’s food issues affected those who loved her. As a CPA, she was analytical about balancing input and output. Knowing that she could maintain her weight through compulsive exercise, she would forsake time with friends and family to spend it in the gym.

“If it was sweet, I couldn’t have it in the house” she recalls. She didn’t stop after one doughnut or cookie; she ate the whole box or bag. “I would throw food into the trash and then later pull it out and eat it.” She learned to take drastic steps like pouring water on food before throwing it away.

Hope thought she was in control until a car accident left her unable to exercise. Frustrated by her food compulsions and fearful of gaining weight, she joined a 12-step program–Overeaters Anonymous. The first three steps involved admitting she was powerless over food, acknowledging a higher power, and giving Him control.

“I was leery but desperate” says Hope, who began attending meetings. “Didn’t God have anything better to do than keep me from eating another chocolate chip cookie?” But the changed lives around her were compelling. “I began to dabble in the steps and think maybe God could change me.”

On her knees, she accepted the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as her own and gave Him control over her life. “I had been doing such a lousy job eating and managing my relationships, but after that moment they improved just enough for me to believe that God was real and active in my life.”

Rethinking Jesus

That Jesus was not the Messiah was a belief deeply entrenched in Hope’s family history, but her newfound appreciation for God and His ability to work miracles caused her to reconsider. “If God could create the world in six days, maybe the Jesus stuff was true too,” says Hope. She sought the truth with an open mind, discovering information about Jesus that contradicted her traditionally held beliefs. That truth eventually produced fruit in every area of her life. While her family didn’t celebrate her choice, they were pleased to see the positive changes.

As a new believer, Hope was encouraged to read the whole Bible and to take it literally. She did, starting with Genesis. She quickly came upon some things that disturbed her new beliefs. “It seemed a lot of Jewish things that were in the Christian Bible weren’t in Christianity.” She was used to things adding up, and this one didn’t. “I was shaken because the Bible didn’t reconcile with the way I saw Christians practicing their faith.”

For most of us, the connection between God and food is a loose one; maybe we pray before eating or meditate during Communion. But ordinarily, the God we serve has little to do with the food we serve.

That’s what confused Hope. Most Christians ignored Old Testament food laws. This became a stumbling block as she tried to grow in her new faith.

“I took in the Christian beliefs about eating pork and shellfish through osmosis. Even when I got in and read the Bible, I continued to ignore the Scriptures because it was easy to go with the flow. People smarter than me were eating these things.”

When Hope asked why Christians ate foods that were contrary to the guidelines in Leviticus 11, she received theological answers about why it was okay. The apostle Peter’s dream in Acts 10 was often referenced. “It was the answer I wanted to hear,” she admits. She continued to eat ribs.

Sick of food

Later, however, a chronic illness forced Hope to revisit the food issue. The only cure was a strict diet that eliminated common foods and ingredients such as sugar and wheat. She could no longer eat out; she learned to cook healthy and tasty meals from scratch.

“It was a huge blessing,” she says. “My body healed, I lost a few pounds, and I began feeling better.”

But a big question remained: How should she eat for the rest of her life?

Again, Hope turned to the Bible to see what God had to say. She sought the counsel of Christian doctors, scholars, and others who had done similar research. She was surprised to find an entire Christian subculture that followed biblical food laws, believing that the Hebrew Scriptures are still relevant. This gave her the confidence to study the food-related scriptures herself.

Brian, her husband, was concerned. He feared her questions had more to do with her Jewish heritage than her Christian faith. He adamantly quoted New Testament verses that seemed to promote eating pork.

“God had always been the glue that kept us together, but my husband was extremely opposed to the road I was going down.”

A wedge formed between them, until Brian reluctantly studied the issues on his own. This became their turning point. “After he did his homework, he joined me on the journey,” says Hope.

Together they learned that just as mothers have opinions on the foods their children should eat, God our Father cares about the foods we eat. From Genesis, Hope learned the importance of plant-based foods, such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains, and seeds. But other scriptures were confusing. Did God arbitrarily declare some animals clean and other animals unclean? Again, the CPA tried to reconcile things.

The ‘clean/unclean’ dilemma

Hope discovered that God’s classification system wasn’t as arbitrary as it seemed. On a surface read of Leviticus 11 it appeared that God randomly chose which animals were clean and which were unclean, but a closer look revealed that these distinctions were in place since the time of Noah.

Further investigation showed that the classification of clean and unclean animals was part of an intelligent plan. Clean mammals have a “split hoof” and “chew the cud.” These animals are herbivores; in other words they eat plants. Herbivores avoid many of the diseases, parasites, and worms that meat-eating animals acquire, so they are a healthier food choice for humans. Herbivores, like the cow, process their food differently than other animals. As the food works its way through their multi-stomach digestive system, the food is purified before toxins are absorbed into the animals’ bodies.

Compare the cow to an unclean animal such as a pig (which has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud); a pig’s food goes to the stomach where it is directly absorbed during the digestive process.

When you consider that pigs are omnivores–they eat everything: plants, dead animals, small rodents, garbage, and even feces–this is an important difference. Animals like the cow, chicken, or tuna were designed as safe food sources, and God designated these animals as clean.

Others, like pigs, catfish, and vultures, were created to be scavengers to clean the environment and were designated as unclean. Hope learned that God’s commands regarding clean and unclean animals weren’t arbitrary but rather an indication of His love for us.

When God’s plan is ignored–like feeding ground-up cattle parts to cows to get them to grow faster–we end up with unintended effects, like Mad Cow Disease. Hope’s study of God’s food laws strengthened her faith as she saw His intelligent design.

Excited by what she learned, Hope stopped eating the meat of unclean animals, including ribs. She also increased the amount of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds in her diet. Today, at 39, her health has never been better, nor her faith stronger.

While Hope has finally found the answers that “add up” for her, she acknowledges that not everyone is bothered by the same questions. “There are theologians who have drawn different conclusions,” she says.

Her intention in writing her book wasn’t to get everyone to stop eating pork and shellfish, but rather to encourage Christians to study the issue for themselves, just as she and Brian did. She hopes her testimony will inspire believers to improve both their physical and spiritual health.

What’s on God’s Menu?

Discussion Starters

• Do you think believers should obey the Old Testament’s food laws? Why, or why not?
• Read Mark 7:1-23. What do you think Jesus is trying to tell the religious leaders in this passage?
• Read Acts 10. What do you think Peter’s dream means?
• What are your eating habits like? Could you see yourself adopting a “biblically kosher” diet?

delves further into some of the most challenging Scripture passages mentioned in the main part of this book. Fasten your seatbelts and get out your Bibles; this may be the richest Scripture study you have ever experienced.

 Click to Purchase Holy Cow! Ebook or Click to Purchase Holy Cow! Paperback

Also by Hope Egan

What the Bible Says about Healthy Living Cookbook

Join biblical health author Hope Egan and lifelong healthy eater Amy Cataldo as they unveil the long-awaited follow-up to What the Bible Says about Healthy Living.

Helping you incor porate God’s ingredients into your life—simply and without sacrificing taste—this companion cookbook shows you how to prepare meals, snacks and desserts based on the principles outlined in What the Bible Says about Healthy Living. For years biblical health experts have been telling you how to think about biblical eating. Now there is a complete cookbook that helps you take action:

“I am enthusiastic in my recommendation of the What the Bible Says about Healthy Living Cookbook. It is, in many ways, the long-awaited companion to my book, What the Bible Says about Healthy Living.”–Rex Russell, M.D.

“These simple to prepare recipes should inspire anyone who wants to honor their body—God’s Temple—and feed their family from a biblical perspective.”–Jordan Rubin–New York Times best-selling author of The Maker’s Diet.

 Free Excerpt (28 pages)

Trust God for what you need. When we rely on Him, we are on our way to creating in ourselves and in our children what Moses termed a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

We recommend you purchase The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach and read it before making any purchases. You can purchase the Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach Ebook and begin reading in minutes.

• Free Excerpt: The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach
• Free Choosing and Using Resources Booklet Classics by Grade Level

The books we recommend are listed by Year at the Amazon Homeschool Store

Heart of Wisdom 4 Year Plan (Repeated 3 X)

Click for a larger view

Level 1 Knowledge (Grades K/1–3)

In a child’s earliest years, he is extremely curious and seeks as much information as he can possibly gather. This trend continues in a child’s formal education throughout the first few years. Children at this age inquire about everything around them-and it is amazing to see how much information they can actually retain. This stage is the first building block toward wisdom-introducing the “raw material” with which the child will later interact through understanding and practical application.

For children in kindergarten to grade three, days should consist of reading aloud, Bible memorization, copy work, oral narration, working on a Bible portfolio and timeline book, various art and crafts, phonics, math, and play. You will follow the four year plan by reading aloud daily from the Bible, history, science and story books.

The history and science unit studies are optional at this age. If you are teaching other children with unit studies, you can teach all the children together by watering down the material as needed. The focus of this stage should be the Bible and the three Rs (reading with a strong phonics base, writing, and math).

For Grades K-3 We Recommend:

1. The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach by Robin Sampson (ebook)
2. Free Heart of Wisdom Lesson Plans
3. Chronological Bible: We recommend the Day by Day Kids Bible or The Jesus Storybook Bible
4. Rose Book of Charts, Map, and Time Lines (see excerpts here)
5. Bible story books
6. The Three R’s by Dr. Ruth Beechick
7. Phonics program (See more in the Language Arts section)
8. Math program on your child’s grade level.
9. Heart of Wisdom unit studies are optional for this age. They would need to be watered down. Start with Ancient History
10. Access to a variety of read aloud books for K-3. Click to download 30 page PDF (use as library list)
11. Heart of Wisdom Link Library lists link by themes in HOW 4 Year Plan
12. Click to learn how to utilize more free videos and resources online
13. Living books for history and science following the Four Year Plan. Children should have access to a variety of highly illustrated information books (plants, animals, how things work, how people live in various time periods, etc.).
    • HOW Year 1 History
    • HOW Year 1 Science
    • HOW Year 2 History
    • HOW Year 2 Science
    • HOW Year 3 History
    • HOW Year 3 Science
    • HOW Year 4 History
    • HOW Year 4 Science

As you teach Bible, history, and science, keep the four steps in mind:

Step 1. Begin by discussing what you are going to learn and relating it to something the child already knows about.

Step 2. Read aloud the text, and stop frequently to ask questions.

Step 3. Reinforce with an activity (copy work, illustration or other hands-on activity)

Step 4. Have them tell back what they have learned (narration) with you or another.

Sample Day with 5 and 7 Year-Old

Level 2 Understanding (Grades 4/5–8)

After the child has gathered rote knowledge (the basic facts), he may proceed to the second phase of learning, understanding. The basic idea behind the biblical word understanding is “division” or “discernment.”

During this phase, children begin to comprehend the meanings behind the things they learned in the knowledge phase. This can be done through definition (as Adam did when naming the animals), through comparison with other similar or dissimilar concepts, and through seeing the facts in the “big picture” or context of things. The learning of facts still plays a role, but these facts are seen as interconnected, in relationship to everything else that is learned.

In grades 5 through 8, the basic subjects that are studied remain the same, but the student begins to view them differently. It is not that the material becomes more complex, per se, but the student is able to approach that material in a different way, and knowledge and understanding begin to grow together toward the ultimate goal: wisdom.

For Grades 4- 8 We Recommend:

1. The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach by Robin Sampson (ebook)
2. Free Heart of Wisdom Lesson Plans
3. Chronological Bible
4. Rose Book of Charts, Map, and Time Lines (see excerpts here)
5. The Wisdom Unit Study (excerpt, ebook)
6. You Can Teach Your Child Successfully Grades 4–8 by Ruth Beechick
7. Heart of Wisdom unit studies. Start with Ancient History
8. Heart of Wisdom Link Library lists link by themes in HOW 4 Year Plan
9. Click to learn how to utilize more free videos and resources online
10. Access to a variety of literature and biographies for grades 5-8.
11. Living books for history and science following the Four Year Plan.
    • HOW Year 1 History
    • HOW Year 1 Science
    • HOW Year 2 History
    • HOW Year 2 Science
    • HOW Year 3 History
    • HOW Year 3 Science
    • HOW Year 4 History
    • HOW Year 4 Science
12. Math program on grade level.
13. Grammar and/or writing program (optional).
14. Rosseta Stone or another foreign language program.

Level 3 Wisdom (Grades 9-12)

The final phase, which generally takes place in grades 9 through 12, focuses on wisdom and its lifelong pursuit. The fundamental biblical idea behind wisdom is application of truth. Wisdom must first arise from the student’s relationship to God (The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom), but it is fed by the previous phases of knowledge and understanding through which the student has passed. Wisdom has been achieved, in the practical sense, when the student consistently makes choices that are pleasing to God and obediently follows God’s Word in every area of life.

True wisdom involves a right perspective, a way of looking at things and making decisions about those things that is based on the knowledge of God and the understanding of His will. It is possible for a person to be knowledgeable, even to have great understanding, but not be wise. Wisdom is the principal thing—we must teach our children its importance and then guide them to attain it throughout their lives.

For Grades 9-12 We Recommend:

1. The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach by Robin Sampson (ebook)
2. Free Heart of Wisdom Lesson Plans
3. Homeschool High School book (college prep, trannscripts, etc)
4. Chronological Bible
5. Rose Book of Charts, Map, and Time Lines (see excerpts here)
6. The Wisdom Unit Study (excerpt, ebook)
7. Nuturing the Write Relationship
8. Writers Inc
9. Heart of Wisdom unit studies. Start with Ancient History
10. Heart of Wisdom Link Library lists link by themes in HOW 4 Year Plan
11. Click to learn how to utilize more free videos and resources online
12. Access to a variety of classical literature and Christian biographies.
13. Living books for history and science following the Four Year Plan.
    • HOW Year 1 History (all grades begin here)
    • HOW Year 1 Science
    • HOW Year 2 History
    • HOW Year 2 Science
    • HOW Year 3 History
    • HOW Year 3 Science
    • HOW Year 4 History
    • HOW Year 4 Science
14. Math program on grade level.
15. Grammar and/or writing program (optional).
16. Rosseta Stone or another foreign language program.

Heart of Wisdom Year 1: Key Recommendations
The reading assignment with pages numbers of these books are in the lessons
Free Heart of Wisdom Lesson Plans	Sample Day by Day Lesson Plans for Week 1 (5p PDF)
A Chronological Bible
The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach (PB) or	Excerpt (60+ pages)
The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach (Ebook)	Excerpt (60+ pages)
Nurturing the Write Relationship (PB) or	Excerpt (20 pages)
Nurturing the Write Relationship (Ebook)	Excerpt (20 pages)
Writers Handbook	Robin’s Review and Links to Student Samples
Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines	Robin’s Review & SUPER Sample Pages
30 Days to Understanding the Bible (PB)	Robin’s Review
Ancient History: Adam to Messiah (Ebook)	Book Excerpt ( 42 pages!) Contents (5 pages)
Discover Jesus in Genesis (PB)
Adam and His Kin (PB)
Eyewitness Mesopotamia
Eyewitness Ancient Egypt (HB)
Our Father Abraham (PB)
Eyewitness Ancient Greece (HB)
Eyewitness Ancient Rome (HB)
Daily Life at the Time of Jesus (HB)
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (HB)
Wisdom Unit Study (PB)
Wisdom Unit Study (Ebook)
Walking Wisely (PB)
Creation Unit Study (Ebook)	Sample Lesson Resource List Objectives
Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation (HB)
Light Unit Study (Ebook)	Sample Lesson Objectives
Eyewitness Light (HB)
God’s Lamp, Man’s Light: Mysteries of the Menorah (PB)
Energy Unit Study (Ebook)
Eyewitness Energy (HB)	Sample Lesson Objectives
Eyewitness Electricity
Force and Motion
Properties of Matter (God’s Design)

Read this story to your children.

“My DEAR COUSINS,” he wrote affectionately:

          “Shall I really be talking to you as I sit here in my study with the river Thames now flowing, now ebbing, past my window?  I am uttering no word, I am only writing; and you are not listening, not reading, for it will be a long time ere what I am now thinking shall reach you over the millions of waves that swell and sink between us.  And yet I shall in very truth be talking to you.

In like manner, with divine differences, God began to talk to us ages before we were born: I will not say before we began to be, for, in a sense, that very moment God thought of us we began to exist, for what God thinks of, is.  We have been lying for ages in his heart without knowing it.  But now we have begun to know it.  We are here, with a great beginning, and before us an end so great that there is no end to it.  But we must take heed, for, else, the very greatness will turn to confusion and terror.

Shall I explain what made me begin my letter to you just this way?-I was sitting in my room, as I am now, thinking what I should say to you.  And as I sat thinking after something worth saying and fit to say, my room spoke to me,-that is, out of its condition and appearance came a thought into my mind.  And that you may under­stand how it came, and how it was what it was, I will first show you what my room at this moment is like.  For the thought had nothing to do with the sun outside, or the shining river, or the white-sailed boats, neither with the high wind that is tossing the rosy hawthorn-bloom before my windows, or with the magnolia trained up the wall and looking in at one of them: it had to do only with the inside of the room.

It is a rather long room.  The greater part has its walls filled with books, and I am sitting at one end quite surrounded by them.  But when I lift my eyes, I look to the other end, and into the heart of the stage for acting upon, filling all the width and a third part of the length of the room. it is surrounded with curtains, but those in front of it are withdrawn, and there the space of it lies before me, a bare, empty hollow of green and blue and red, which tomorrow evening will be filled with group after group of moving, talking, shining, acting men and women, boys and girls.  It looked to me like a human heart, waiting to be filled with the scenes of its own story,-with this difference, that the heart itself will determine of what sort those groups shall be.  Then there grew up in my mind the following little parable, which, to those who do not care to understand it, will be dark,-but to those who desire to know its meaning, may give light:

There was once a wise man to whom was granted the power to send forth his thoughts in shapes that other people could see.  And, as he walked abroad in the world, he came upon some whom his wisdom might serve.  One day, having, in a street of the city where he dwelt, rescued from danger a boy about ten years of age, he went with him to his mother, and begged that he might take him to his house for a week.  When they heard his name, the parents willingly let their son go with him.  And he taught him many things, and the boy loved and trusted him.

When the boy was asleep in bed, the wise man would go to his room at midnight, and lay his ear to his ear, and hearken to his dreams.  Then he would stand and spread out his arms over him and look up.  And the boy would smile, and his sleep was the deeper.

Once, just an hour after the sage had thus visited him, the boy woke, and found himself alone in the middle of the night.  He could not get to sleep again, and grew so restless that he rose and went down the stair.  The moon shone in at every western window, and his way was, now in glimmer and now in gloom.’ On the first landing he saw a door wide open, which he had never seen open till now.  It was the door of the wizard’s room.  Within, all was bright with moonlight, and the boy first peeped, then stepped in, and peered timidly about him.

        The farther end of the room was hidden by a curtain stretched quite across it, and, curious to see what was behind, he approached it.  But ere he reached it, the curtain slowly divided in the middle and, drawn back to each side, revealed a place with just light enough in it from the moonshine to show that it was a dungeon.  In the middle of it, upon the floor, sat a prisoner, with fetters to his feet, and manacles to his hands; an iron collar was round his neck, and a chain from the collar had its last link in an iron staple deep-fixed in the stone floor.  His head was sunk on his bosom, and he sat abject and despairing.

‘What a wicked man he must be!’ thought the boy, and was turning to run away in terror when the man lifted his head, and his look caught and held him.  For he saw a pate, worn, fierce countenance, which, somehow, through all the added years, and all the dirt that defiled it, he recognized as his own.  For a moment the prisoner gazed at him mournfully; then a wild passion of rage and despair seized him; he dragged and tore at his chains, raved and shrieked, and dashed himself on the ground like one mad with imprisonment.  For a time he lay exhausted, then half rose and sat as before, gazing helplessly upon the ground.

By and by a spider came creeping along the bar of his fetters.  He put out his hand, and, with the manacle on his wrist, crushed it, and smiled.  Instantly through the gloom came a strong, clear, yet strangely sweet voice-and the very sweetness had in it something that made the boy think of fire.  And the voice said:

‘So! in the midst of misery, thou takest delight in destruction!  Is it not well thou art chained? If thou wast free, thou wouldst in time destroy the world.  Tame thy wild beast, or sit there till I tame him.’

The prisoner peered and stared through the dusk, but could see no one; he fell into another fit of furious raving, but not a hair-breadth would one link of chain yield to his wildest endeavor.

‘Oh, my mother!’ he cried, as he sank again into the grave of exhaustion.

‘Thy mother is gone from thee,’ said the voice, ‘outworn by thine evil ways.  Thou didst choose to have thyself and not thy ‘mother, and there thou hast thyself, and she is gone.  I only am left to care for thee-not with kisses and sweet words, but with a dungeon.  Unawares to thyself thou hast forged thine own chains, and riveted them upon thy limbs.  Not Hercules could free thee or himself from such imprison­ment.’

The man burst out weeping, and cried with sobs:

‘What then am I to do, for the burden of them is intolerable?’

‘What I will tell thee,’ said the voice; ‘for so shall thy chains fall from thee.’

‘I will do it,’ said the man.

‘Thy prison is foul,’ said the voice.

‘It is,’ answered the prisoner.

‘Cleanse it, then.’

‘How can I cleanse it when I cannot move?’

‘Cannot move!  Thy hands were upon thy face a moment gone-and now they are upon the floor!  Near one of those hands lies a dead mouse; yonder is an open window.  Cast the dead thing out into the furnace of life, that it may speedily make an end thereof.’

With sudden obedient resolve the prisoner made the endeavor to reach it.  The chain pulled the collar hard, and the manacle wrenched his wrist; but he caught the dead thing by the tail, and with a fierce effort threw it; out of the window it flew and fell-and the air of his dungeon seemed already clearer.

After a silence, came the voice again:

‘Behind thee lies a broom,’ it said; ‘reach forth and take it, and sweep around thee as far as thy chains will yield thee scope.’

The man obeyed, and, as he swept, at every stroke he reached farther.  At length,-how it,came he could not tell, for his chains hung heavy upon him still,-he found himself sweeping the very foot of the walls.

A moment more, and he stood at the open window, looking out into the world.  A dove perched upon the window-sill, and walked inquiringly in; he caught it in his hands, and looked how to close the window, that he might secure its company.  Then came the voice:

‘Wilt thou, a prisoner, make of thyself a jailer?’

He opened his hands, and the dove darted into the sunlight.  There it fluttered and flashed for a moment, like a bird of snow; then re­entered, and flew into his very hands.  He stroked and kissed it.  The bird went and came, and was his companion.

Still, his chains hung about him, and he sighed and groaned under their weight.

‘Set thee down,’ said the voice, ‘and Polish thine irons.’

He obeyed, rubbing link against link busily with his hands.  And thus he labored-as it seemed to the boy in the vision-day after day, until at last every portion within his reach, of fetter, and chain, and collar, glittered with brightness.

‘Go to the window,’ then said the voice, ‘and lay thee clown in the sunshine.’

He went and lay down, and fell asleep.  When he awoke, he began to raise himself heavily; but, lo! the sun had melted all the burnished parts of his bonds, the rest dropped from him, and he sprung to his feet.  For very joy of lightness, he ran about the room like a frolicking child.  Then said the voice once more:

‘Now carve thee out of the wall the figure of a man, as perfect as thou canst think and make it.’

‘Alas!’ said the prisoner to himself, ‘I know not how to carve or fashion the image of anything.’

But as he said it, he turned with a sigh to find among the fragments of his fetters what piece of iron might best serve him for a chisel.  To work he set, and many and weary were the hours he wrought, for his attempts appeared to him nothing better than those of a child, and again and ever again as he carved, he had to change his purpose, and cut away what he had carved; for the thing he wrought would not conform itself to the thing he thought, and it seemed he made no progress in the task that was set him.  But he did not know that it was because his thought was not good enough to give strength and skill to his hand,­ that it seemed too good for his hand to follow.

One night he wrought hard by the glimmer of his wretched lamp, until, overwearied, he fell fast asleep, and slept like one dead.  When he awoke, lo! a man of light, lovely and grand, who stood where he had been so wearily carving the unresponsive stone!  He rose and drew nigh.  Behold, it was an opening in the wall, through which his freedom shone!  The man of light was the door into the universe.  And he darted through the wall.

As he vanished from his sight, the boy felt the wind of the morning lave his forehead; but with the prisoner vanished the vision; he was alone, with the moon shining through the windows.  Too solemn to be afraid, he crept back to his bed, and fell fast asleep.

In the morning, he knew there had come to him what he now took for a strange dream, but he remembered little of it, and thought less about it, and the same day the wizard took him home.

His mother was out when he arrived, and he had not been in five minutes before it began to rain.  It was holiday-time, and there were no lessons, and the school-room looked dismal as a new street.  He had not a single companion, and the rain came down with slow persistence.  He tried to read, but could not find any enjoyment in it.  His thoughts grew more and more gloomy, until at last his very soul was disquieted within him.  When his mother came home and sought him in the school-room, she found him lying on the floor, sullen and unkind.  Although he knew her step as she entered, he never looked up; and when she spoke to him, he answered like one aggrieved.

‘I am sorry you are unhappy,’ said his mother, sweetly. I did not know you were to be home to-day.  Come with me to my room.’

He answered his mother insolently:

‘I don’t want to go with you.  I only want to be left alone.’

His mother turned away, and, without another word, left the room.

The cat came in, went up to him purring, and rubbed herself against him.  He gave her such a blow that she flew out again, in angry fright, with her back high above her head.  And the rain rained faster, and the wind began to blow, and the misery settled down upon his soul like lead.  At last he wept with his face on the floor, quite overmastered by the most contemptible of passions-self-pity.

Again the voice of his mother came to him.  The wizard had in the meantime come to see her, and had just left her.

‘Get up, my boy,’ she said, in a more commanding tone than he had ever heard from her before.

With her words the vision returned upon him, clear, and plain, and strong.  He started in terror, almost expecting to hear the chains rattle about him.

‘Get up, and make the room tidy.  See how you have thrown the books about!’ said his mother.

He dared not disobey her.  He sprung to his feet, and as he reduced the little chaos around him to order, first calmness descended, and then shame arose.  As he fulfilled her word, his mother stood and looked on.  The moment he had finished, he ran to her, threw his arms about her neck, burst into honest, worthy tears, and cried:

‘Mother”

Then, after a while, he sobbed out:

‘I am sorry I was so cross and rude to my mother.’

She kissed him, and put her arms around him, and with his mind’s eye he saw the flap of the white dove’s wing.  She took him by the hand and led him to the window.  The sun was shining, and a grand rainbow stood against the black curtain of the receding cataract.

‘Come, my child,’ she said; ‘we will go out together.’

It was long years ere the boy understood all the meanings of the vision.  I doubt if he understands them all yet.  But he will one day.  And I can say no more for the wisest of the readers, or for the writer himself, of this parable.

The Father of all the boys on earth and in heaven be with the boys of America! and when they grow up, may they and the men of England understand, and love, and help each other!  Amen!

Your friend,

GEORGE MACDONALD.”

Books by George Macdonald

Several are free on Kindle

Books by George MacDonald

Option 1: Send via Kindle App

Send to Kindle for PC, Send to Kindle for Mac and Send to Kindle for Google Chrome are free applications that let you easily send your personal documents to your registered Kindle devices, supported Kindle reading applications, and your Kindle Library from your computer. You can;

• Send personal documents to your Kindle from your PC.
• From Windows Explorer, simply right click on one or more documents and choose Send to Kindle.
• From any Windows application that can print, select Print and choose Send to Kindle.
• Drag and drop, one or more documents onto the Send to Kindle application.
• Choose to archive documents in your Kindle library, where you can re-download them conveniently at any time.

Free Kindle Apps

• Send to Kindle for PC
• Send to Kindle for Mac
• Send to Kindle for Google Chrome

Option 2:  Email your eBook

1. 

   Find Your Kindle Email Address - You were assigned an email address when you purchased your Kindle ([name]@kindle.com). Look up these addresses on “Manage Your Kindle” page on amazon.com. 
2. Email your eBook - Attach the document to a new e-mail or forward an existing e-mail with the document attached to the Send-to-Kindle e-mail address associated with your Kindle device or Kindle reading application.A subject is not necessary in the e-mail, unless you’d prefer to have the document converted to the Kindle format so you can take advantage of functionality such as variable font size and annotations. To have a document converted to Kindle format (.azw), the subject line should be “convert” when e-mailing a personal document to your Send-to-Kindle address.
3. Step Three: Enjoy Your eBook

Option 3: Transfering eBooks with USB

1. Connect your Kindle to your computer via USB cable. After drivers are installed, you can see your Kindle device as a disk drive
2. Navigate to “documents” folder on your Kindle device
3. Copy your files in supported format there (PDF/TXT/MOBI/PRC/AZW)
4. Safely eject the device. Your eBook should now be visible along with your other eBooks in the home screen.

 Purchase Heart of Wisdom eBooks at Homeschool-books.com

Check out Amazon’s Help page on for more information.

Copy and place this post on your homeschool blog and receive a coupon for a free $15 eBook. Email Robin@Heartofwisdom.com with your blog post URL.

Using HOW has been a life-changing experience for our entire family. We spend more time together in God’s Word and are growing in our understanding together!

Learning Israel’s history has been a tremendous benefit to understanding all of history, past, present, and future. Also, learning about our Hebrew roots has brought new life to our relationship with God thru Jesus Christ.

The Science Units are wonderful as well, tying it all together in the creation order. We are just beginning the Wisdom Unit and are gleaning so much already. I know that God orchestrated HOW becoming part of our homeschooling.

**********

Mesopotamia Unit Study Review WOW! I loved this study! Forthe first time in my life I understand the chronological and geographical events of the Bible from Creation to the New Testament! My children really enjoyed it and had fun with all the maps. It was presented in a way that was easy enough for my 8 and 10 year old to grasp but also included enough meat for my 12, 14, and 17 year olds. We printed out the maps (Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, etc) from the HOW Internet site and charted each Bible event and location in the portfolios. Keep up the great work! —Debra Canton, Mom of 5

Wisdom Unit Study ReviewsI love the Wisdom Unit Study! We have homeschooled 9 years and this is the best study we have experienced. Robin has developed an excellent bible-based study and I appreciate her work so much. —William Canant Using HOW has been a life-changing experience for our entire family. We spend more time together in God’s Word and are growing in our understanding together! Learning Israel’s history has been a tremendous benefit to understanding all of history, past, present, and future. Also, learning about our Hebrew roots has brought new life to our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Science Units are wonderful as well, tying it all together in the creation order. We are just beginning the Wisdom Unit and are gleaning so much already. I know that God orchestrated HOW becoming part of our homeschooling.

Light Unit Study ReviewI was blown away by the Light Unit Study. We began because I thought it was subject we “had” to cover. What a delight! I’m amazed at how many spiritual lessons flow throughout the unit as we are learning science. I enjoyed it before I began teaching then learned that much more more once we worked together. I was very impressed with the depth in every lesson. My children are 9, 12 and 16. We all love the HOW approach! Thank you. —Renee, Science phobic mom

We are very excited about this “renewed” style of learning and the Hebrew based education that has become the center of our lives. We are so very grateful for everything that Robin has created within Heart of Wisdom.

The books she has written and the resources that are shared within HOW are phenomenal. HOW has paved the way to many an enlightened discussion in our bible studies and around our lunch and diner tables. Thank you for such enrichment.

I was drawn to these studies because of the focus on the Bible. But quite honestly, what is keeping me is the quality of content and the ease in lesson preparation!! I plan on staying with these studies as they come out. We are currently doing the Wisdom study and I absolutely think it is outstanding.

I would highly recommend HOW to anyone who has been intimidated by the preparation involved in doing Unit Studies. Robin has done a wonderful job in selecting resources and activities.

**********

We just started using the Heart of Wisdom unit studies and we all find that they are truly a blessing. I started by ordering the Light e-book and then I realized that I should start with Creation and then do Adam to Abraham. I ordered all the key resources, even though I do not need them. I am still waiting for a couple to come in. We are all looking very forward to it!!! Thank you and God Bless.

**********

I love Heart of Wisdom. I am so grateful to the Lord for bringing this program to my attention. Your web site has also prodded me toward learning about Hebrew roots and Biblical Holidays. I feel like I’m entering a whole new world in my relationship to the Lord.

I am using HOW as the history program for my 11 year old and we are learning so much together. My high school son is using HOW for his Bible curriculum. It will take my younger son 2 or 3 years to complete and my older son only has 1 year left of school so he will finish it in one year.

I am so excited to be putting this material into both boys hearts so that they can have God’s wisdom and make wise decisions for their life. Thank you so much for this program! It is making a big difference in our lives.

I used Sonlight as a beginning homeschooler and appreciated the layout of timing & material usage (& the wonderful books), however; the H.O.W. focus point reaches for a greater depth in the study of and relationship with God that is precious to my soul and to the heart and focus of my family.

THIS (H.O.W.)is the way the Creator of my family has beckoned my heart to rear these children I’m blessed to have. Thank you, Robin, for obeying the Creator in your responsibility with H.O.W. so that I, in turn, can obey Him in my responsibility with my children.

This curriculum achieves the high hope my heart held for our homeschooling experience and my personal experience as a mother and an ever-learning believer. Importantly, too, lessons are already planned out for easy preparation. What a joy I count it all!

**********

My 16 year old has always been in Christian school until last year. He has always struggled to learn and hated school. Last year I saw him beginning to rebel like so many others his age. I did Abeka last year at home with him and he hated it too.

All summer I searched the web for something better and when I finally ran across the Heart of Wisdom web site, I felt my spirit dance inside me. I knew in my spirit that this is what the Lord wanted me to do. So this year I began my son, a junior on your program and he is thriving. His moods are better. He does his school work without being asked and is eager to do it. He does not argue hardly at all. He got grounded for not finishing some work and when I told him he could not go out with his friends until he finished his work, he did not argue or nothing(it was 4 days). It just goes to show that when we do things the Lords way He blesses us. I thank God for all the work you have done on this and will be doing. May God bless you and all your gifts to His work!!

**********

I have to tell you that finding your site was truly a Godsend. I’m brand new to homeschooling and had this idea in my mind of what God wanted me to do with our children and our family, but I had no idea where to start. When I began reading all of the material on the HOW site it was as if God were speaking directly to me. HOW is awesome! My children are in K – 2 – 7/8.

**********

This is my first year with HOW. I have now been teaching with it for about 6 weeks. I am still learning A LOT but am getting a little more comfortable with it. I still allow the children to spend too much time in all the different activities, but we are really enjoying it, and I feel, we are all learning a lot. I love being in the Bible more, textbooks less, and seeing how the Bible relates to our lives today.

**********

HOW is the best curriculum I have ever seen and/or used in the secular or Christian homeschool market- bar none! Nothing compares to it at all !! According to the kids- and me!

Plus- you don’t have to buy any key resource books if you cannot afford it. You can use the internet links and still cover everything in detail! So it is quite economical for families with small budgets. THAT is liberating in itself! We loved all the internet links. There was no way you could NOT learn, or miss something with the abundance of links for each e-book.

**********

I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone looking for the truth in history/science told in a non-threatening way. Not doctrinal teachings, but the actual truth, no matter where that leads for your children and you. And what could be more Biblical than that?

The Bible incorporated into daily FIRST readings, as the primary curriculum, was the best thing we have ever done for our children. The perfect way to start a day, instead of trying to fit it in as a small subject. IT IS the subject, then all else falls in around it. And as Robin said once, if you get nothing else done that day, at least the most important thing has been finished. THAT is what we want for our children. The firmest foundation possible.

**********

Excellent array of resources, enough so that I don’t have to do too much work in watering the material down for my pre-K, K, and 1st graders.

I love the Hebraic focus. HOW Ancient History is very complete, easy to use and we love the Hebrew vocabulary lessons. We already had a few of the resources. (Writer’s Express, Beechick, Kingfisher) I have circulated this through our homeschooling support group and you have subsequently gotten a lot of exposure and three orders of “What your child needs to know when”, and another HOW unit study order. Thank you for excellent resources!!

**********

We finished the Creation Unit and we will be starting Adam to Messiah this week. It looks very well written,and has many resources to choose from. We enjoyed the Creation Unit.(Evolution is a very confusing topic, I think Creation is actually easier to believe and understand.)We are anxious to start our next unit Adam to Abraham.

This is the approach I’ve been looking for. It’s truly BIBLE BASED.

The Lord has put a great love in my heart to return to the Jewish roots from which Christianity arose. I am overjoyed to find Hebrew definitions and meanings included in the lesson studies. I know that God intends for my family to apply His Word in every part of our lives. Never was there an intention that we separate education and spirituality. God has a plan in HOW studies. Finding my niche and enjoying it all the way!

**********

We went to HOW for its Hebraic centered teaching and approach. We had been focusing on the Classical method but I didn’t like the Hellenistic approach and the almost total lack of Jewish presence.

**********

We have loved it so far, though we are moving slowly through the material for greater retention of the truths. We have only been using the materials for 1 month. I believe HOW is an answer to prayer & it has been a great blessing to my family. We are using Creation & Wisdom currently.

We are only a few lessons into it & already my 14 yr. old is planning to put a Creation Science Club together [there isn't one in our area] in order to encourage/ teach others the truth of a literal, 6 day Creation & its foundational importance.

The units are teaching ME so much. The Wisdom unit has been very convicting & has led to many precious & invaluable discussions with my children. I so appreciate the ease of use & the fact that HOW can be used in the way God leads a particular family using it. Because of this ability to flex to the family & be individualized, How keeps learning engaging & interesting rather than dry. Thank you Robin for all of the hard work you’ve put into HOW!

I first heard about HOW from a book called “The Things We Wish We’d Known” I was depressed with what I thought were my curriculum options, and was looking for some encouragement. I found your article and immediately used the address listed in the back of the book to find your books. Read as much as I could, prayed about making this huge change in our schooling. It’s frightening to toss out the textbooks. We have loved the change to HOW curriculum, I wish I had made this change years ago. I have always wanted to teach this way, but I was afraid of my own short-comings. I was afraid I didn’t have the knowledge that it would take to successfully teach my children without textbooks.

We had started a timeline, but it sat undone because we didn’t know where to find the resources to complete it. We started studying and celebrating the Biblical feasts; you gave us the nudge we needed to have a full experience of the feasts, without feeling like we were neglecting our school studies. We are thrilled with the change to HOW, school is finally the way of life we had wanted it to be. Thank You from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for all of the time and energy that you have put into this work, so that other mom’s can be a success.

**********

I am using the Ancient History: Adam to Messiah bound book and I thoroughly enjoy it! My children like being able to choose their own activities and they can be as simple or complex as I need them to be according to the ages of my children. Thanks for such great materials to teach my children!

**********

I have just begun to use HOW for first year history – Adam to Messiah. I LIKE it A LOT! I searched for a year to a year and a half for a Hebraic homeschooling method. The Lord definitely led us to you and we are thankful and excited! I struggled on my own before, but now I have in my hands what I need and a suggested course of direction that we alter as the Lord leads. This year has definitely started off much better than in the past and we look forward to the remainder of the year! We are looking to purchase the Creation unit study shortly. Thank You!!!

**********

We have done unit studies for the last 4 years and started this one this year. I knew we’d made the best decision when, after reading one of the “Excite” sections, my 6th grade daughter declared, “I just love how this is written! It’s easy to follow and understand and really catches my interest!”

**********

I love all the information, I am very supportive of your work to heavily integrate the bible and Hebraic roots into this curriculum and that is what interests me most.

**********

I love HOW…we got past the 11th chapter of Genesis (which we spent a semester on)… Over all I LOVE the book and plan to use it till my child graduates ….thank you for the effort, time and prayer you put into this bo ok….

I’m planning to take my oldest from Creation through Present and use all the Science & Life Skills when she reaches High School. The younger children follow along at their own level. Thank you for providing RESOURCES FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN. We’ll purchase units and use them as finances allow and rely on God to fill in the rest. I’m positive He will!

We started with the Creation Ebook. So much was learned. There are so many offerings in each lesson and it is wonderful. Thank You!

**********

It has been a terrific resource for my own study, which in my opinion is without question the most undermentioned area of homeschooling across the board for new and seasoned homeschoolers alike, Had I had this years I am certain my approach toward “unschooling” would have been much less a factor though honestly I am thankful I did it that way then plow on forward into my own understanding of “education”

I knew this was what God had intended for me after a very short time on your web site, I may not utilize all lessons, or resources with my kids but those we do are memorable to all of us. His timing is certainly not mine,come to think of it…and in all likelihood I would have had very unrealistic expectations on myself and my two children if I had found this earlier.

I disagree with Mary Prides magazines’ recent critique of HOW , in that I would never classify it mainly to families with lots of children. That was certainly never a consideration of mine. Just thought I would mention it as I found it odd!I also didn’t include in the above survey any intention of using some of your newer units. Would love to and will at some point I am certain but trying to prioritize and eliminate so much of what I have already purchased in the last 6 years(would fill a “real” classroom or two) but can’t say I am not tempted when I see them…I bought your What Your Child Needs to Know When years ago.

One confirmation God often gives me that I am plodding along the path intended for my family(OK perhaps not the path but at least on the map somewhere) is continued revelation to just how faulty my conception of education is was and continues to be and how HE continues to encourage my enlightenment despite my relentless insistence on using the compass rose of others. Thanks again Robin!

**********

This is a great study for the whole family… even my husband and college-aged son get in on some of the studies in the evenings. We also have a neighbor boy or two who occasionally join us in the afternoons for some of our best HOW studies that I save to do with them. ) My only negative is that my boys still don’t like to write, so assignments can take a long time to get done. I love to writ e… so does my sister and my nieces, so I don’t know if this is just a boy thing of not liking to write or what. They far prefer projects that don’t end up on paper in a notebook… this is starting our 3rd year using HO W…

**********

Dear Robin, At least 8 years ago I began looking into FAR ABOVE RUBIES and using it with my daughter. Thank you for making that available. After reading about H.O.W.in WHAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO KNOW WHEN, about 3-4 years ago, it Changed my life.

We dropped everything and began one of our best years ever. We just used the bible and other living books I had on hand, all three children (16,11,3) working together enjoying the Bible just from what you outlined in the book.(no extra money) Just implementing what we already had, never having had time to use before. I can tell all the hard work you put into Heart Of Wisdom Unit Studies come from what you have done with your own family, and it is defiantly an upgrade from FAR.

Thank You so much. I have Homeschooled for 15 years. I really have enjoyed using Your new study Adam to Messiah, once I finally got brave enough to down load it .I absolutely love it. (I am new to computers) But the links from the books are definitely worth it. Now I am ready to buy more Ebooks. Its not that hard or scary after all. Thanks again.

**********

We have had only positive times since we started HOW, our 5yo is coming along in leaps and bounds with her biblical knowledge which is always encouraging to see in your children. I put this sudden growth in her down to the discussion and writing/drawing that goes on after we have read a bible story rather than just the reading. I could go on and on about how changing to HOW and the 4 step lessons has been a positive change for our homeschool.

I love the Heart of Wisdom unit studies. My children are excited about school since we started these unit studies. My main reason for home schooling was to teach my children that God is the center, beginning and end of everything and this curriculum does just that. Thank you Robin.

**********

I love the approach, that it’s Bible based, and the great support found on the web site! This curriculum is so well organized, and it’s obvious you poured all your love into it! If anyone wants the curriculum they use to double as a “witness”, they should use HOW!

**********

You’re work is brilliant!!! I have researched your work for the past few months. I like to use the Charlotte Mason method and find your curriculum MOST informative. My family has homeschooled for almost seventeen years now. We try to keep most of our studies family based for group learning despite the different age levels. You have provided us with the Best layout plan for the most important subject, the BIBLE.

**********

I wanted to let you know just how much I appreciate the Ancient History: Adam to Messiah unit study. My children and I LOVE it. I have never seen anything quite like it. It is so wonderful to be able to use something where the children (and myself!) not only research historical events, but discover scriptural truth and evidence in them also. It is so fascinating! Some day, when my life slows down a bit, I would like to do what my son is doing in your book. Thank you so much for the time and effort you spent in putting this together. I can’t wait for the next unit that comes out!

**********

We have studied Creation and ancient history, but never like this before. I love how Robin has integrated God’s people into ancient history. We have studied Egypt, The Greeks, Mesopotamia, etc but I was always left wondering where God’s people were at and what they were doing during this time period. The curriculums we used gave us Biblical events and dates so we could see how the Bible lined up, but not really fitting it in with such detail. Now it’s like we are studying with new eyes! I think Robin has done a wonderful job. –Blessings,

**********

I L-O-V-E it. I am praising God for this marvelous curriculum! I am thanking Him for your steadfastness and dedication! Thank you to you, too! This is just what I have been looking for, and I am thrilled to have it available to us!! There is no labor that isn’t a thousand times more than planned – I just *know* that you will be reaping HUGE blessings from your labors with HOW for a l-o-n-g time to come. On the days that it really gets too much – PLEASE remember what a HUGE blessing you are giving many sincere Moms who are VERY grateful and thanking God for your work!

**********

We are just getting started on this journey and I already love it. I am so pleased to find an hebraic approach to learning that is for the entire family, not just the school-aged.

**********

I am using HOW with one daughter now (age 14) and another (age 13) will soon join her. I love it. It is so versatile both in use for different ages and in activities for different learning styles, etc. It is the first Bible study plan that I have stuck with for more than a week or two. Plenty of variety in this area too.

The lessons are well-written and offer many resources, both books and Internet, so there’s no trouble finding information for research. The web site gives lots of ideas for simplifying it for younger students too as well as tons of good info on educational philosophy which I love reading and rereading!

**********

My daughter has greatly enjoyed your creation unit and the Adam to Messiah unit. I purchased only the first two units in ebound form(would love to have them in book form). We just finished these studies. We took longer than the recommended schedule. I am currently taking a short fall break, as we started in the summer, and am trying to decide whether to purchase the next two units(one science and one history). I love your heart and focus on the scripture…

**********

I love the various internet resources. Most of them have been accessible and worthwhile.

**********

I really appreciate the internet links and reference lists. It is a big help, and reduces the time needed to prepare lessons. We also appreciate the reference to bibles verses in each unit. We are really enjoying our study of Ancient History – Adam to Messiah.

**********

I have found that using H.O.W. has developed in my daughter a love of the bible and has made a great change in her character development….and there are sooooo many things that catch her interest that at times she finds it overwhelming till we sit down and go over what it is she wants to accomplish for the year…and gives us a sense of focus…..

**********

I found out for us that trying to use all resources was too much and cut down on the internet links and a few books. Above where it asks about computer use. My children will not be using the computer till at least 16 or 17 depending on the child. Also of much help to us, we began using the Robinson Curriculum method with your books and my printing the unit page for the children as to which books they were to read. Later we will incorporate back in more of the assignments but we are in the middle of something else. We have a lot of discussion around the books we read from your units and it all relates some how to whatever other Bible Studies we are doing. There is a real depth there that we might not have had with out HOW! We are very pleased.

**********

We have enjoyed using your unit studied this far. My children are learning, but I do not think the realize how much. I enjoy starting with the Bible and making it the central theme. I know that this is the path that the Lord would have for my family as He continues to affirm this decision. We are excited everyday to see what we will be doing in the next lesson. I am able to do all my planning one day at a time and am not be overwhelmed with any of it.

**********

I love the format of the unit studies and find them to be easy to use .Thanks oh and by the way my children love them too.

**********

Your materials have been very helpful in teaching me how to draw Scriptural applications into all of our daughter’s lessons. Keep up the good work.

**********

LOVE IT! I already loved The Biblical Holidays Book that we started using last year. Then I loved the What Your Child Should Know When book I purchased after that. I was feeling more and more freedom as a Mom/Educator and growing to understand even more fully, WHO I AM as a Christian! (Geez, I’m 38, it takes soo long, it seems) And then, I accidentally found this site (haha) that pictured these 2 books that I already LOVED as resources…only to discover that ROBIN is the author of the whole curriculum!

I felt like I had hit the jackpot. I already knew I would love the material because of my life-changing experiences with the other books. I have recommended these materials to mothers over and over and over! I love going deeper with my girls in the Word. This was lacking terribly for our first 3 years, but I didn’t really ‘get’ what was discouraging me so. Now, I feel a real sense of purpose, vision and accomplishment. I praise God for how we are growing. I know we are just scratching the surface on all He has to teach and show us. Worship time is also very important to us, and that has gotten put aside a little for this, so i need balance. …. We just love it!

**********

What has absolutely helped me more than anything else is the 4 step lessons applied to our Bible time. I LOVE setting aside the first hour and a half each day to pray, worship, and study together. Our children are 7, 8 and 9 (almost 10), and their 4th step includes writing assignments, penmanship, dictation, map work, drawing, coloring, study of additional resources, and the occasional “project,” such as a diorama, salt dough map, or role play.

THANK YOU for challenging us to use the Bible as the “heart” of our studies. By the way, we only get through a chapter or two each day, but that works for us…we figure we’ll finish the Bible in about 5 years! We are using the NIV for now so that everyone can help in the reading.

**********

We are studying how to apply this system with our children. We can see God`s hand in this material. This is a tremendous revolution for parents willing to serve the Lord. Thanks for being a blessing for our family. God bless you with more wisdom.

**********

I am just getting started but what I appreciate best is that HOW gives me a game plan for teaching what I want to teach my children. It gives to me what I don’t have time to research and plan by myself.

I am very excited about these studies. It is exactly what I have been looking for. I am using it with my 2nd grader. I think it is great! …

• Purchase HOW Publications
• Download Free Sample Lessons and Excerpts

The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach: Bible-Based Homeschooling

The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach is for all homeschoolers who want to make the Bible the center of their school day. This giant 500+ page book provides you with the methods, program, and resources for a course of study where students spend half the school day studying God’s Word and the other half studying God’s world (academics). Students study history chronologically and science in the order of the days of Creation. This book will encourage, motivate you and instruct you, step by step, how to give your child a Bible-focused, comprehensive education from preschool through high school; one that will train him or her to read, to study, to understand, to love to learn and, most importantly, to desire and seek true wisdom. This approach can be used for all grade levels.

When homeschoolers are asked about this book, one word continues to come up over and over–Wow! Read the excerpt today to see what all the wow is about.

• The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach (FREE 60-page excerpt PDF File)
• Start reading the Ebook today! $17.00 Add to cart
• Order the bound book. Retail $34.95 NOW $27.95 Add to cart

How do you feel about HOW? Add your comment below.

This approach and methods can be used with any  curricula. See homeschool curriculum reviews below.

Homeschooling Nutritiously

I like to compare my book The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach to a cookbook of nutritious recipes.

I have worked on these recipes for over twenty years; I have altered the ingredients, measurements, and methods (avoiding poisonous ingredients) and finally came up with nourishing and satisfying results that work well for my family. You can use my recipes as outlined, or adapt them to your family’s preferences.

The most important thing is that you use nutritional ingredients.

This cookbook not only provides the recipes but also gives a detailed account of the background of the ingredients and cooking methods to help you make the best use of them.

Section One: Lessons from Exodus

The first section of HOWTA (The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach) describes recipes and methods I tried that failed, and how I came to create the Heart of Wisdom recipes.

The main problem with all the previous recipes I tried had to do with the man made poisonous fear ingredient. Any recipe that includes fear will result in disaster.

I addresses the common fears of homeschoolers in this section by turning to the story of the Exodus, with the hope of preparing the hearts of homeschooling parents to wait and depend on God for all of their needs—and to be anxious for nothing.

Section 1 Chapters

• Our Homeschool Journey: Escape from Public School
• God Called You to be a Part of His Plan
• Focus on God, Not on Circumstances
• Only Be Strong and Very Courageous

Section Two: Rethinking Education

The second section explains the historical and cultural backgrounds of my recipes.

Here you will learn how it is necessary to sift the proper ingredients and methods by looking at other recipes that have been tried through history. This section includes the origins and development of our traditional educational methods, from ancient times until today, (including an explanation of Classical education) with an appeal to return to biblical methods.

Section 2 Chapters

• What Is Education? What Is Wisdom?
• A Brief History of Education
• Christian Versus Secular Worldviews
• Greek Versus Hebrew Worldviews
• The Hebrew Educational Model
• Why Christians Reject Hebrew Ways

Section Three: Heart of Wisdom Methods

Section Three includes comprehensive descriptions of the ingredients and preparation methods you’ll be using in the recipes. Here the most popular homeschool teaching philosophies and little-known methods are described.

Section 3 Chapters

• Overview
• Learning Styles
• Four-Step Process
• Delight Directed Studies
• Charlotte Mason’s Educational Philosophies
• Writing to Learn
• Critical Thinking and Logic

Section Four: Heart of Wisdom Instructions

The fourth section contains the cooking directions—pulling it all together–how to decide on a meal plan, actually combine and prepare the ingredients, and then present the finished product to your students. In this section you will learn about the Heart of Wisdom four-year plan and philosophies for teaching each subject, as well as how to create your own unit studies.

Section 4 Chapters

• Overview of the Plan
• God’s Word: Bible Study
• God’s World: Unit Studies
• Creating the Notebooks
• Scheduling by Faith

Section Five: Resources (Nutritious Ingredients)

The fifth section includes book lists contained in the Heart of Wisdom four-year plan. This section explains the equipment that should be in every kitchen (books that should be in every homeschool library) and provides hundreds of books by grade level to teach the unit studies. Includes everything you need to teach Bible, literature, history, science, geography and more for twelve years (the four year plan three times).

William Thayer addressed the importance of making wise choices in Gaining Favor with God and Man. He begins by quoting Henry Ward Beecher, nineteenth-century author as saying,

”Books are the windows through which the soul looks out. A home without good books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up his children without surrounding them with books, if he has the means to buy them. It is a wrong to his family. He cheats them. Children learn to read by being in the presence of books. The love of knowledge comes with reading and grows upon it, and the love of knowledge in a young mind is almost a warrant against the inferior excitement of passions and vices. But to select the books—that is the difficulty. Their number is legion.”

Thayer comments,

“Here is an opportunity to exercise judgment, wise discrimination, and criticism ,supplemented by all the good advice parents, guardians, and other friends can bestow. Under these circumstances the choice of books is not easy, but is one of the most important and difficult duties imposed upon the young or old. Yet it must be done, or reading will prove a curse.”

Our book selection should be based on Philippians 4:8: whatsoever is true, honest, just,pure, lovely, of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Section 5 Chapters

• Creating and/or Purchasing Unit Studies
• Choosing and Using Resources
• Resources
• Bible Resources
• History Resources
• Science Resources
• Life Skills Resources
• Biographies
• Classics K-3
• Classics 4-8
• Classics 9-12

Teaching Methods

The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach is a combination of several teaching methods organized around a two-sided curriculum base: God’s Word and God’s World.

This method is specifically designed for multilevel teaching. This approach includes a four-year suggested course of study designed to be repeated every four years through three cycles.

The Heart of Wisdom approach begins with the Bible as the center of education, with all subordinate studies brought into the circle of light radiating from there. Academics play an important part, but they are secondary. Students spend half the school day studying God’s Word and the other half studying God’s world. This approach can be used for all grade levels.

The Heart of Wisdom teaching approach is a blending of popular home education methods. Read an overview below and click on links to learn more about each method.

Is the Heart of Wisdom approach for you?

Will this approach fit your family?

Will it encourage you?

Will it help you homeschool?

Will it make your life easier?

We want to help you answer the questions above so we’ve provided a wealth of information on our site and a free 60-page excerpt from our 500-page book.

Our program is radically different compared to the public school system and from many homeschool programs. You’ll have to do some reading to understand our approach but you’ll find the methods make sense and are more natural that traditional methods.

So grab a cup of tea and browse through the links. Spend some time earnestly seeking God about your homeschool decisions.

Do not fret! God will lead you to the approach that will fit your family!

Remember these two promises:

1. seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt 6:22)
2. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Pro 3:6

Whatever approach you decide to use, we hope our materials encourage you to lean on God and devote your homeschooling to Him.

The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach: Bible-Based Homeschooling

The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach is for all homeschoolers who want to make the Bible the center of their school day. This giant 500+ page book provides you with the methods, program, and resources for a course of study where students spend half the school day studying God’s Word and the other half studying God’s world (academics). Students study history chronologically and science in the order of the days of Creation. This book will encourage, motivate you and instruct you, step by step, how to give your child a Bible-focused, comprehensive education from preschool through high school; one that will train him or her to read, to study, to understand, to love to learn and, most importantly, to desire and seek true wisdom. This approach can be used for all grade levels.

When homeschoolers are asked about this book, one word continues to come up over and over–Wow!

Read the excerpt today to see what all the wow is about.

• The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach (FREE 60-page excerpt PDF File)
• Purchase the eBook or paperback here

The Heart of Wisdom unit studies were designed for grades 4-12. The first unit in our history series, Adam to Abraham, was revised to include resources for all ages. Many families are adapting the unit studies successfully for their entire family.

If you would like to use Ancient History: Adam to Messiah with younger children, you can easily stretch the one-year book into a two-year program. We are currently revising each unit to include activities and resources for grades K-3. If you purchase any ebook now you will get the revised versions free when they become available.  Click here to see the Resource List for Younger Children.

One of the activities we encourage is Scrapbooking to Learn. The two images below are good examples of children learning on different levels.

Jonah 1 was done by a four-year-old with his mom’s help using scrapbook paper and stickers. Children work on projects as the mother reads the lessons.	Jonah 2 was done by a teen working on the computer. Older students are involved in more independent studies. Click here to see more scrapbook samples

Teaching Tips

Below are some ideas that will help you adapt this program for younger elementary students. If you have one older child in Heart of Wisdom and you adapt this program for your younger students, you will save time and money: you won’t have to buy, assign, teach, and check separate workbooks and text materials for each child.

Many parents are interested in HOW because it teaches things they were never taught, such as history from a biblical viewpoint. Parents, even with very young children, can learn through HOW lessons and share what they have learned with their children.

Watering down the activities is fairly simple. Pray for wisdom and insight (remember, God has promised wisdom to those who ask). Read over the four-step lesson yourself the night before or that morning. Your major change will be in step 2.

Watering Down the Lessons

Step 1 Excite: Use this step to discuss what God shows you about the lesson–enthusiasm is contagious! Step 1 usually can be done for all ages so you won’t have to alter it.

Step 2 Examine: depends on the age–and there are three options:

1. Read the text (from an Internet site or book) and summarize it for the student. (This is Charlotte Mason’s narration method in reverse).

2. Help the student read a book written at his level about the topic (elementary-age books are being added to each unit in the Resource Section). Usually you can just read aloud the book recommended in the lesson.

3. Read aloud to the child for no more than 10-15 minutes, and then stop for a narration (retelling) by the child. Make sure he or she is grasping the concepts.

Step 3 Expand: instead of the writing assignment, have the child narrate (tell back) what he has learned. Or have them illustrate or dictate a few sentences to you as you write them. Many activities in HOW unit studies can be done with all ages.

Step 4 Excel: Students put work (on their level) in a portfolio and share with others. You will still work on the portfolio but on their level.

Sample Days

• Sample Morning with Younger Children: Breakfast, chores, Bible, phonics, history, science, ect with elementary students.
• Delight-Directed Homeschool Day: Example of a school day with a kindergartner and 1st grader

Build Your Own Package with New or USED books based on HOW Four-Year Plan You can now build your curriculum browsing our recommendations and choose only books you need.

History is taught Chronologically. Science is taught in the Days of Creation Order. Choose the Year and Subject:

• Year 1 History: Adam to Abraham, Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Messiah
• Year 1 Science: Creation, Light, Energy, Matter, Motion, Electricity
• Year 2 History: Early Church, Vikings, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation
• Year 2 Science: Weather, Oceans, Plants, Geology, Astronomy
• Year 3 History Exploration, Colonies, New Nation, Civil War, American West
• Year 3 Science Ocean Animals, Birds, Insects, Land Animals
• Year 4 History: Industrial Era, WWI, Depression, WWII, Holocaust, 1960 to Present
• Year 4 Science: Anatomy human body

Not sure where to start? Read The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach Overview

Scrapbooking to Learn Steps

1. We read a book about Columbus from our home library.
2. We watched a few Youtube videos.
3. We brainstormed a list of facts to record (browsing book for review).
4. I let the boys browse my scrapbook stash. They picked this Mega Masculine Kit (I would have chosen a blue kit for the ocean, but it’s important they get to choose).
5. I found the free Columbus embellishments listed below (quick Google search).
6. I chose the template is by Nettio Designs. (Did I mention templates save hours? I have a huge template stash and use them over and over. Search free scrapbook template at Google to get your stash started.)
7. We created the scrapbook page (boys chose which papers went where learning Photoshop as we worked.

We used the same approach to make the Johnny Appleseed and apples pages here.

The process from book to videos to scrapbook page took about a total of 90 minutes. But the scrapbook page took about 45 minutes. Next week we will go over the page for review.

Utilizing YouTube

YouTube has a TON of videos on Columbus. Here are just a few. BTW, We have limited bandwidth and can;t watch videos on the computer, so we use iPhone connection (small but it works).

This so much faster than lapbooking (but we still lapbook) and the end product it pretty impressing.

Our New Study Habit

1. Read a book on the topic.
2. Watch a few Youtube videos on the topic.
3. Make a Scrapbook page with a bullet list of facts learned.

Learn more about digital Scrapbooking to Learn here.

Free Columbus Day Embellishments

For lapbooking or scrapbooking.

Go to download page

Go to download page

Go to download page

Go to download page

Go to download page

Go to download page

Go to download page

Creation: An Internet-Linked Unit Study

This Multilevel (grades 4-12), Bible-Focused, Heart of Wisdom Unit Study utilizes the Charlotte Mason approach, and the Internet!

Many Christians fail to realize that the events of Genesis are literal, are historical (particularly Genesis 1-11), and are foundational to all Christian doctrine. All Biblical doctrines of theology, directly or indirectly, ultimately have their basis in the book of Genesis.

A believing understanding of the book of Genesis is a prerequisite to an understanding of God and His meaning to man. If Genesis is only myth or allegory, then Christian doctrines have no foundation. Many Christians have added evolution to the Bible, resulting in a position that accepts God as Creator but restricts Him to the process of evolution.

This position is destructive to Christianity for many reasons.

• Evolution permeates history, law, art, music, and sadly theology.Evolution is the new taproot of our education system.
• The main principle of evolution is that man is capable of improving himself, of moving upward, of continuously progressing to higher and higher levels of achievement.
• The evolutionist says that there are no absolutes, no laws, no rules, no roles, no standards of conduct.
• Henry Morris said, Evolution is the root of atheism, of communism, nazism, behaviorism, racism, economic imperialism, militarism, libertinism, anarchism, and all manner of anti-Christian systems of belief and practice

“This is much more than a study of Creation –This is a study of Christianity versus humanism”

Download Sample Pages

Sample Lesson Resource List Objectives

What You Get!

This organized yet flexible Bible focused unit study includes:

• Overview
• Objectives
• Timeline
• Vocabulary
• Annotated Resource Lists (books, Internet sites, videos, software, etc)
• 17 Four-Step Lessons

Four Step Lessons

There are four basic steps in each Heart of Wisdom Unit Study lesson based on the four major learning styles. Studies show this four-step method motivates students to comprehend the material better and retain the information longer.

• Step 1 Excite: Create an interest
• Step 2 Examine: Find out the Facts
• Step 3 Expand: Do something with what was learned
• Step 4 Excel: Pull everything together and share with someone.

Internet-Linked Lessons!

Each Heart of Wisdom Ebook contains active links which will take you:

• * Bible Study Tools
• Video Clips
• Free Online Books
• Craft Instructions
• Biographies
• Worksheets
• Experiments
• Relevant Articles
• Writing Instruction
• Illustrations
• Maps
• Quizzes
• and more!

Ebook Benefits!

• You can access your EBook immediately. Once you buy an eBook, you can read it instantly; you don’t have to wait for delivery.
• You can find what you need fast. You can use “search” and “find” functions to pinpoint the material you need more easily than in a print book.
• You can find what you need fast. You can use “search” and “find” functions to pinpoint the material you need more easily than in a print book.
• HOW Ebooks are extensively hyperlinked. You open the EBook in your browser and click your way to the section or chapter you need.
• HOW Ebooks are hyperlinked to the Internet. You open the EBook in your browser and click the underlined text for instant additional information: worksheets, free online books, audio, video, articles, illustrations, experiments, and more!
• You can print out Ebooks! Print only the pages that you need for the lessons that day or print the whole book and place in a note book.

Customer Reviews

Purchase now and download in minutes. $15.00

Add to cart