As I worked on my Raising Leaders books last year, I discovered a pretty cool activity you can use with your children to encourage critical thinking.  As I read Ezekiel in my quiet times this week, I was struck by the use of metaphor.

Metaphor is foreign to most of us.  If we think of metaphors, we usually associate them with similes.  Similes compare two things with the word “like” or ‘as’. Metaphors compare two things without the word “like” or “as”.  Metaphor is a much larger idea.  When we read classics, great authors use metaphors throughout their books.

One of the reasons we don’t think in metaphor is it takes hard work.  Making comparisons between two things that appear different requires “thinking”.  Thus, my activity centers around metaphor.

Ezekiel offers several places to start.  (Or, you can find another passage)

Ezekiel 31:2-9        Compares Assyria to cedar tree
Ezekiel 32:2-9        Compares Pharaoh to young lion & sea monster
Ezekiel 34             Compares Israel to shepherds
Compares God to True Shepherd

1. Read the passage aloud to your children
2. Choose one of the items being compared.
3. Ask questions to get your children to describe the thing you choose.  For instance:  What is a cedar tree like?  How does a young lion act?  What does a good shepherd do?  I’m sure you get the idea.
4. Once your children have a picture of this animal, tree, person, etc, ask what it is compared to.
5. Ask questions to determine how these two items are similar.  For instance:  How is Pharaoh like a young lion?  How is Pharaoh like a sea monster?  How is Israel like a shepherd?
6. Draw comparisons and conclusions.  This will enlighten your children’s readings and discussions.

This is not included in my new book set.  It’s just a freebie activity for all of you to try.  Using questions is a great way to encourage your children to think on their own. If you like this type of activity, take a look at Raising Leaders, Not Followers.

Please pass this activity to other homeschoolers. If you share it on your blog, email loop or personal emails, please include the following bio:

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Kerry Beck, author of Raising Leaders, Not Followers shows you how to teach your children to think for themselves.  She wants to give you a Free Report and Free Online Workshop.  Pick them up at:   Leadership Education Homeschool Curriculum

That’s right…I’ve got another surprise just for you. Surprise #4

I’ve added another bonus to the Raising Leaders Book Set. That’s right, you will receive another $27 in products when you claim your
Raising Leaders Book Set. I’ve had a few people say I’m crazy for giving away more content, but I think these product will help you implement Leadership Education.

Powerful Ways to Sharpen Your Memory (value $27)
It doesn’t matter whether you’re 92 years old or just 12, anyone is capable of memorizing and recalling virtually any information possible. However, you must have the proper lifestyle, attitude, habits, and methods to possess a super memory.

Powerful Ways to Sharpen Your Memory will teach you practical and creative strategies to refine and sharpen your wonderful memory. It will reveal to you effective techniques on how to maintain your brain in tip-top condition, how to overcome forgetfulness, and how to easily retain data in your mind for immediate retrieval anytime you desire.

Best of all, many of the methods are simple, practical, and fun to learn!
Go ahead and reserve your copy of Raising Leaders, Not Followers today. Take some time to teach your kids “how to think” so they will have the freedom to call their own shots as adults.

Blessings,
Kerry

ps. The price increases on Saturday, September 1 at 12noon eastern. Don’t wait until the last minute or you’ll miss the great price and all the bonuses ($148 for you) Go to this link to get your copy before the price increases.
Leadership Education Homeschool Curriculum

Raising Leaders, Not Followers launched today - WOW! I was amazed at the response to this relaunch of this book set. I knew Leadership Education provided an approach to homeschooling that improved our homeschool. BUT, it is exciting to see how many others want to know how to implement Leadership Education.

Thanks for your encouragement. Once you read some of the book, I’d love to hear what you think. Post a comment about your first thoughts.

On to the important news…
The First 10 Buyers receive a special bonus MP3, Family Ebiz Expo Preview Calls. This audio includes interviews of top internet marketers and covers building a relationship with your online customers, eBay, keyword research, growing your list of customers, what to do with your list,…and more.

The bonus to the First 10 Buyers was gone in less than 10 minutes!

Here are the first 10 buyers of Raising Leaders, Not Followers:

Kimberly Stephenson
Stacy Wright
Laura Smith
Lori Graveling
Kim Skidmore
Katrina Ancel
Jocelyn Klotz
Mary Barrentine
Louis Kentch
Maridel Willer

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You will receive your MP3 shortly.

Kerry

It is just about launch time for Raising Leaders, Not Followers. I know you are ready to order!!
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Welcome to those of you who just joined us!
If you just joined us, you might want to read more on this blog!
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I stayed up too late last night writing a letter for you that explains everything you are going to get as part of Raising Leaders, Not Followers.

Thank goodness I did get a little sleep.

It took a lot longer to write this letter than I thought it would - primarily because there is so much in the package.

NOW, I have to warn you…I ended up with a really long letter about Raising Leaders.

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Please forgive me for the length. I know that many of you already know you want to order the package immediately. If that is your situation, then just click the link at the top of the page and place your order.

When you click the button to order, you will find an additional set of Leadership Education Resources to help you give your children a Superior Education. I’m telling you now because I don’t want you to be surprised!
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On the other hand, I know that some of you really want to see everything that is included in the course. If that’s you, then I think I’ve done a pretty good job of explaining all the different aspects of this package.

If you are in this latter category, there is one thing I want to stress…don’t feel too frenzied when you are reading the letter.

Take your time and go through the entire letter. In fact, I suggest you print it out - it will be a lot easier to read that way. That’s what I do when I find a product with a long letter describing it. Check out everything you get in the course before you make your decision. I don’t want you to be frustrated.

I completely forgot to send an email with Surprise 3 today, so I announced it on the call tonight.

I will be giving the first 10 buyers a copy of our FamilyEbiz Expo Preview Calls.  These sell for $97 a set.  After the launch settles down, I’ll post the first 10 buyers on this blog…promise!!

Refresh your browser at 12noon Eastern time to claim your copy of Raising Leaders Set.

Leadership Education Homeschool Curriculum

Bob won our leadership package.  Thanks for your comment about the price being practical.  Sorry I put those fun pics on my blog while others were slaving at their computer

Kerry

Christian Leadership for Teens 

Great Books? Classics? Worldview?

Over the past few years there has been a revival to use Great Books and classics in your homeschool. These books are wonderful in that they teach your children a variety of lessons, concepts and principles. But, is reading some of the Great Books enough? Is writing about the Great Books enough?

You may wonder why I bring up this subject. Over the past several months I’ve had conversations with homeschool parents about what they do with their older children. Since popular homeschool books and curricula suggest reading the Great Books, they begin promptly at ninth grade. Some start even sooner. If you aren’t familiar with Great Books, it is a list of the Great Books of Western Civilization. You can read more about these books at http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/100.html

My concern isn’t the fact that homeschoolers are reading the Great Books and classics of our civilization. What concerns me is how those books are used. Many of the ones that have read these books fall either boast of the number of books they’ve read as if it makes them better than others. Or, they tell me all about these books, but don’t really understand how the book lines up with Scripture.

If students aren’t taught to use a Biblical worldview as they read, I think they are coming up short. These books should be compared to Scripture, especially the Great Books because many of the Great Books are pagan. I’m not opposed to reading those books, but you must look at the thoughts, philosophies and principles within them from a Biblical perspective.

Most adults and teenagers, have a difficult time analyzing these books Biblically. That stems from the fact we were not taught how to do this when we were in school.

So, what can you do? I’d like to share a few ideas we have used to make your readings more profitable.

1. Parents Read books Along with Students - As parents, you should read the Great Books or classics at the same time your students are doing so. Don’t depend on the fact that you read these in high school. Let me tell you from my own experience, it doesn’t work. When my oldest daughter read Pride & Prejudice several years ago, I tried to discuss it by just using the Cliff Notes. It was a disaster! I really didn’t remember the story, nor could I talk to her about the lessons we could learn from this novel.

2. Daily Reading Journal - Both mom and students should keep a daily reading journal. If dad is the one reading the books with the children, he should keep a journal. At the beginning, your students will probably just re-tell what they read. Your journal should be different and discuss what you learn from those pages. Then, you can encourage your children to interact with the text by reading your jouranl entries to them. When they hear your entries with your thoughts about the readings, they will start to see a better way to write a journal entry.

3. Discuss the Books with Your Children - Once a week, discuss the classic or greata book you are reading along with your children. Have everyone bring their reading journal, so they can share what they learned from the book. The best way you can lead a discussion is by using questions. Be sure to allow plenty of silence after your questions for your children to think about the answers. Too often, parents answer their own question and don’t allow enough time to contemplate what is being asked. The best thing you can do when leading is a discussion is to never answer your own question. If no one can answer the question, pose another question to get to the matter at hand.

4. Apply Scripture to Your Readings - In your reading journal and discussion, you must bring in Scripture that agrees or disagrees with the book. As you do this, your children will begin to see the importance of analyzing all of their readings from a Biblical perspective. This is the foundation for their future. If your children can analyze books from a Christian perspective, they should be able to translate that activity to other areas of life (family, business, community politics and so forth).

My favorite time to discuss from a Biblical perspective is dinner time. Dad and Mom are both present and give a different outlook on the same situation. Don’t make this too hard. Make your discussions and Biblical applications a part of the life you already lead. Make it part of your daily activities, such as a meal time.

If drawing Biblical applications from your studies is difficult for you, I highly recommend using Gileskirk Humanities. They’ve done most of the work for you!

DON’T GIVE UP BEFORE YOU START!!!

I can probably read your mind right now. It’s saying, “That’s a lot of work! I don’t think I can do it.” I completely understand because I know it’s a ton of work. I try to do this with my own children and realized where I come short as I wrote this article.

On the other hand, it is one of the most rewarding activities I’ve done with my children. In a few short years they will not be living under my roof. Will they be prepared to live with a Biblical worldview? If I don’t work hard now, my children are the ones who will suffer later.

When your children were small, they needed you just to survive. Now that they are older, they can get by without your help. You get comfortable not being as tired with your family work. My encouragement to you is to keep working a few more years by giving your children the Biblical foundation they so desperately need for their future.

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Colossians 1:28-29

Work hard now with your children, through God’s might power, so you can present your children to Jesus as mature believers.

(c) Kerry Beck, 2007

Feel free to share this article, as long as you include the following bio in full.

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Kerry Beck is a wife, homeschool mom and business educator. She authors books such as Raising Leaders, Not Followers; Hop Off the Conveyor Belt; Teach Your Child “How to Think” with Mentoring, and recently published her first multi-media course, Secrets to Online Auction Success. She wants to give you a free report, “How to Get It All Done” at Christian Homeschool Curriculum

I told you I would tell you about Surprise #2 today and I’m trying to finish before the afternoon. Steve & I decided to go do something fun with our family on Saturday afternoons. We often have families for lunch after church on Sunday, so Saturday seemed like a good time. No housework, No computer work, No busywork on Saturday afternoons—yippee! We are headed to Moscow Mountain this afternoon for a drive and hike. We may even find a small town with a cool cafe for supper!

On to the news….

Yesterday I told you about my first Surprise - My Leaked Chapter from Raising Leaders, Not Followers. If you haven’t gotten your copy of this chapter, go get it right now.
Leadership Education Homeschool Curriculum

Once you read it, please leave a post on my blog and tell me what you think of this chapter.

You can do me a great favor spreading the news to the homeschooling community by telling your friends and homeschool associations about the release of my new book, Raising Leaders, on Tuesday, August 28th.
Tell them they can get my free report, free Start School Right workshop and Leaked Chapter at
Christian Leadership for Teens & Kids

Thanks in advance for helping me share with others the important information about conveyor belt education, leadership education and practical ways to give your children a superior education.

To read Surprise #2, go to the next post:

Actually there are 2 surprises listed below -
Don’t skip the end of the post

Blessings,
Kerry Beck
….who can’t wait to tell you about her new book - a must for any parent!

EARLY BUYERS BONUSES: Buy the First 24 HOURS and you will receive:
An Entrepreneur Package - Total value $79

Last year, over 70% of you told me the biggest area you need support is Raising an Entrepreneur. Since Steve already has many materials to encourage families in entrepreneur endeavors, I decided to offer these supports as a bonus. I know you will discover many secrets in these items because other families have told us how valuable they are.

Giving Your Children an Entrepreneur’s Mindset (mp3) (Value $15)
Stephen Beck shares how to teach your children practical skills that lead to an entrepreneurial mindset. Steve has owned many companies over the past 20 years, including a contracting business, curriculum store, internet marketing firm, website design business and a reloading supplies store. When Steve tells you about having your own business, he speaks from experience.

Start Your Internet Business Right (ebook) (Value $27)
Stephen Beck tells you his secrets to start your own internet business. Learn from Stephen why the internet is the perfect place to start a business. Discover ways you can jumpstart your new endeavor and avoid common mistakes.

Family eBay Business Secrets (mp3) (Value $37)
Kerry Beck has been an eBay Power Seller for the past three years and shares how you can involve your children in eBay. It’s a fantastic place for your child’s business because it is so simple to get going.

SECOND SURPRISE #2
We’ve had a huge response to our Free Giveaway of Raising Leaders, Not Followers Package, I decided to have a short phone call to announce the winner. It will be about 30 minutes and I will be answering some questions some of you have about Raising Leaders and Leadership Education.

If YOU have a question about Leadership Education, please post it on my blog or send me an email. I will answer as many questions as I have time and then draw a winner for our FREE package.

If you are on the “First to Know” List, you will receive an email with all the call details (phone #, passcode). The call will be on Monday night. I am waiting until the night before the launch, so I can answer as many of your questions before the launch on Tuesday, August 28th as possible.

Don’t Miss our Q & A Call

Monday, August 27
9:00pm Eastern
8:00pm Central
7:00pm Mountain
6:00pm Pacific

Watch your inbox for the “First to Know” details. If you aren’t on the First to Know List, you can sign up at
Leadership Education Homeschool Curriculum

Blessings,
Kerry

ps. Post your questions right here!

I just posted pictures of our trip to Victoria last weekend. They are on my blog.

Many of you want to know the price of my Leadership Education package that will be available on Tuesday, August 28 (12noon EST). I told you I would let you know about the price for our Raising Leaders, Not Followers package today. I’m sorry it took awhile to send this email, but my blog pictures took longer than I anticipated because I’m pretty much of a technical dummy with a digital camera

Besides the concern about price, I also had some moms concerned about buying e-books. This is a great question I addressed in my blog. If you are wondering why I am selling an e-book package instead of printed books, read my August 23rd post below:

While you are here on my blog, enter to win a Leadership Package by adding a comment to one of my posts.

SURPRISES

SURPRISE #1 - LEAKED CHAPTER of Raising Leaders, Not Followers

Someone twisted my arm to give you more free information about Leadership Education. I just leaked a chapter of my first book, Raising Leader, Not Followers. If you are on my ‘First to Know’ list, you already received an email with the link to the leaked chapter. If you haven’t received my Leaked Chapter, sign up to get it, as well as my free report and Start School Right workshop recording.

Here’s the link to get all of that and more. !
Leadership Education Homeschool Curriculum

After you sign up, you will be directed to a page with the Leaked Chapter link. Bookmark that page immediately so you can find it on Tuesday, August 28 at 12noon-Eastern Time.

SURPRISE #2: I’ll announce that tomorrow, Saturday, August 25th. Watch your email!

SURPRISE #3: I’ll announce that on Monday, August 27th, along with the winner of my Leadership Package. Watch your email!

Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in our free Raising Leaders Giveaway!

Blessings,
Kerry