We truly want students to master the three spiritual R’s: Receivingthe Word, Reflectingtheir own lives in light of the Word, and Respondingby making the right changes in their lives based on the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. This is and will always be our primary mission as Christian educators. Now that school is out for the summer, however, what can we as parents do to reinforce the actual academic foundations of learning for their students?

As we keep the spiritual thrust in education first, the next highest priorities in Christian education ought to be excellence in academics, followed by sacred music and fine arts, God-honoring athletics, and other wholesome and edifying extracurricular activities. Thus, a solid and comprehensive Christian education involves the spiritual, academic, musical, physical, and social aspects of a young person’s life; this is one great benefit that an authentic Christian school, under the authority of the local New Testament Church and the Christian home, provides over a secular education.

 

As we have written previously on the importance of the spiritual thrust, today we will focus primarily on reinforcing the foundations of academic learning. We first must realize that, in order for students to be successful in their later years of education, the early and middle years (ages five to fourteen) must be properly established. While it is never too late to educate, it is much harder to do later in life when the foundations have not been properly laid in the more formative years. Below are several ways parents can help their students this summer reinforce and eventually master the foundations of learning and then help them flourish in every aspect of their educational life.    

1. Reading - This is the foundation for all learning. If one cannot read well, education in every other subject and area of life will be severely hindered. It is crucial that young people master the building blocks of reading. The seven phonetic steps should be taught in the following order: short vowels, consonants, blends, the one vowel rule and words, long vowels, the two vowel rule and words, and special sounds. Each of these concepts should be reinforced through daily practice. As students learn the phonetic rules, parents should have them read the Bible out loud. This will help their reading skills and plant God’s Word in their heart. Parents should also have their students read sound biographies about great Christian and American leaders. This will sharpen their minds and inspire them to be young people of vision, character, and leadership. To encourage student to love reading more, they should be led to find wholesome books of interests that complement the Word of God. As they master reading in their teenage life, they should be challenged to read God-honoring literature.

 

 Writing - Great penmanship is almost a lost art in our culture today. It is vital that we help students get back to being prolific writers in format and content!It starts with the basicsthe pencil grip, the paper slant, and the student’s posture. As manuscript and later cursive letters are introduced, students must practice letter formation, spacing, and neatness. As student’s master the rudiments of how to write, it will be time to focus on what to write and spelling skills. Junior and senior high students should also be taught how to write stories pertaining to their interests, Sunday School lessons, devotionals, and how to prepare speeches, formal essays, and research papers. In addition, they should master creative writing, poetry, professional writing, and personal correspondence. Let’s help our students to restore the lost art of writing this summer!

3. Arithmetic - The foundation for arithmetic is centered on mastering adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. This is crucial for every level of math beyond the fourth grade. Students should also learn to perform rapid metal calculations of the four math operations. While calculators and computers are helpful later in life, students must learn to perform basic arithmetic operations in their mind and should always guard against becoming dependant on a machine for basic mathematics. We should use exciting and profitable math games to encourage students to sharpen their math skills on a daily basis. Remember, math teaches students that the Lord is absolute and perfect. Math also teaches students that God created our world with precise and accurate laws which are complex, amazing, and wonderful.

 

Sometimes students might say, regarding more advanced mathematics like algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, “Why am I taking this? I will never use this in life.”

We must help them realize that all mathematics (especially advanced math) will help them to become prolific problem solvers, develop their logical, intellectual, and critical thinking skills, which in conjunction with spiritual nourishment, will produce a mind that is full of wisdom and able to biblically discern at a much higher level.

 

Parents, do not let your students just spend their time this summer, have them invest it daily. Your leadership in these areas over the summer will help your students master the foundations of learning and prepare them to blossom this fall, both spiritually and academically! 

 

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Isaiah 28:10