How We Teach Our Kids

WHY WE ARE TEACHING SCRIPTURE SONGS:
Jason and I started putting scripture verses to song when our children were in Awana.  Our kids are still basically nonreaders and somehow a song could teach our the words faster than constant drillling.  As Jason and I began working through the Navigators memory system together we found that we each were writing little songs to help us remember the verses.  If one of us were having trouble catching on to the verse, we would just borrow the other's song.  As we started hearing of other families who were planning to go through the Navigators verses, we wanted a way to share the songs that we had written, in case it would help them. 

HOW WE TEACH OUR KIDS THE SCRIPTURE SONGS:
Our four kids range in age from 7years  to 19 months.  Currently our three oldest (3 yrs - 7yrs) have memorized around 20 verses of scripture this year.  On Monday, Jason introduces the scripture song, explains any difficult words and we work on singing.  We may sing it several times before we ask the kids to try to sing it on their own.  Sometimes we add hand motions.  After they have each had a chance to try we continue singing it a few more times.  We use the rest of the time to work on previous verses or to sing a favorite hymn.  Each day of that week, we focus on the current memory verse until we have it down. 

WHEN DO WE TEACH THEM:
We teach the songs on weekday mornings before school for about 15 minutes.

WHERE DO WE SIT:
Each weekday morning before school begins, our three oldest children line up on the couch and Jason sits across from them.  Each child gets a square to sit on.  We have also tried having them sit on individual pillows, which works just as well.  The important point is making sure that they each have their own space to prevent territory wars or other distractions.  Our kids also know that we expect them to sit still and participate with a good attitude.  I usually sit on a chair nearby.  When we began in September, I usually let the baby wander around the room until she asked to sit on my lap or began causing a distraction.  Once she climbed in my lap, I expected her to stay there.  Over time I gave her less and less time to wander and now she is (mostly) used to sitting on my lap during our music time. 

HOW DO YOU PICK WHICH SCRIPTURES TO TEACH THEM:
We have been following the Navigators Topical Memory system that we are posting on Bible On the Brain, but are choosing the shorter verse from each pair.  During Christmas we chose some verses from Isaiah and other relevant books.

CAN YOU REALLY EXPECT CHILDREN TO LEARN THESE BIBLE VERSES:
YES!!!  Nothing is more exciting than hearing my three year old excitedly asking her dad if she can sing the verse.  If she can learn "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6" - YOU CAN TOO!!!