habit & character resources

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  • bethanna
    Participant

    I’m planning up-coming purchases and wanted some feedback from you wonderful ladies. I for sure want to get Laying Down the Rails to help me be more intentional with habit training. But I have also been looking at the Doorposts books Polished Cornerstones/Plants Grown Up as well as Marilyn Boyer’s books Crossroads of Character, Character Trails, etc. I found Boyer’s on the Grace & Truth Books site. My dc are 7, 5, 2, & soon newborn. Do any of you have experience with those other resources? Would it be too much to use one alongside Rails? Should I just focus with LDTR this year (with new baby) & perhaps get others later? Decisions, decisions. 🙂 TIA

    ServingwithJoy
    Participant

    Well, I haven’t used the other resources you mentioned, but I do have Laying Down the Rails. I would describe it as a resource for you – to teach you how to teach the habits one by one.

    But I think it would definitely be helpful to have another book that you go through with the children. Personally, I would like to find one that closely parallels the habits that Charlotte advocates: Obedience, Attention, etc…

    So hopefully someone will chime in with more experience and we can both benefit! God bless on new baby 🙂 and happy homeschool shopping!

    ServingwithJoy
    Participant

    Just got my “A Child’s Book of Character Building” in the mail, and low and behold – it does walk through the character and habits with the kids one by one…Book 1 discusses: Attentive, Faith, Creative, Dilligence, Patience, Contentment, Obedience, Wisdom, Tenderhearted, Thankfulness, Honesty and Joyfulness. There is a scripture, a Bible story, 3 stories of the character trait in every day life, and a discussion section. I am looking forward to this – check it out!

    chocodog
    Participant

    I have a few different ones but I have all of Door posts books you mentioned and all the charts.  I like the book “For instruction in righteousness”  I do think I like “The Family Virtues Guide” by Linda Kavelin Popov. I think this resource is more for younger children.  The only reason I like this one is because you ask the child what the word means ex.. assertiveness.  Then, it tells you what it means and examples of it. why you should apply it in your life. How do you practice it. What would assertiveness look like. Signs of Success when you apply it in your life. I felt this was a very quick study and helped us to look at what it might look like when applied. Not just Bible Verses but what it looks like.   IMA I thought it was a very helpful book. I do love all the Doorpost books. I have all of the child character training books but feel they were a little overwhelming for younger children. Either that or they just weren’t getting it IMA.  It could just be my children but I felt there was something missing when we studied them… (That glass overed look)  So, I use “The Family Virtues Guide” and “For instruction in righteousness” together.  I plan on using the others at a different time. I may start using Plants Grown up for my oldest this summer.  He is going to be 11 in a few months. We have done a few of the stubjects with him but it was slower paced.  He understands more and so I work more one on one with him.

      I bought a game called “A study in Wisdom board game” by Dr. Dale simpson. IMA- I beleive this would be your best bet for reinforcement. It has coloring pages with a Proverbs to look up. It also has a simple game board with question cards to get your whole family involved in the action.  Your child has to guess if it is a wise or foolish situation.  

        I wish you luck in picking out a curriculum for your children. I hope I wasn’t clear as mud.   🙂

    chocodog
    Participant

    I almost forgot. I also looked up virtue stories on the interenet. I don’t remember what site it was but it had wonderful stories.  It seems like the kids remembered those the most. 

                 Blessings!

     

    katafus
    Participant

    My kids LOVE Crossroads of Character.  I’m still struggling to use the whole curriculum more systematically–we also have the CD of historical storeis, the Hands-On Character Buiding book and the Mom’s Guide that has Bible stories in the back, along with other resources.  My 7yo is too old for a lot of the PreK activities, but some are still applicable.  We’ve chosen to incorporate the Crossroads book, history stories on CD, Bible stories, memory verses and alphabet flashcards (for the 3yo).  Loving it so far!  I will say that all the materials have a very “homemade” quality to them, as opposed to professional.  Mostly, I find that charming.  The only part where it bothers me a bit is with the CD.  I’d actually prefer to have a list of the historical characters, and read our own quality literature on each character, but I just haven’t gotten around to making that happen.  So for now, we continue to listen to the CD.  My boys love it.

    Hope that helps!

    katafus
    Participant

    PS–I love Money Saving Mom (aka Crystal Paine), which is where I first learned of this resource.  She highly recommends the next level up, too.  I think it’s called Character Trails.  I’d love to do that book after we finish Crossroads of Character.  (I have a feeling it’s more on par with my 7yo).

    bethanna
    Participant

    Thank you for sharing your experience with those resources. They are still on my list of possible resources. I ordered LDTR soon after this thread began & LDTRfor Children just last week!

    Bramble
    Participant

    I love the Boyers’ resources!!  My kids relate more to those stories than the ones in A Child’s Book of Character Building.

     

    katafus
    Participant

    Hey all,  Just wanted to let you know I’m giving away a free copy of the Boyers’ book Crossroads of Character this week on my blog!  I also did a review of the book and the preschool curriculum.

    If you’re interested, check it out here:

    http://www.yankeehomestead.com/2013/12/10/giveaway-crossroads-character/

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