Build Virtuous Habits & Patterns thru Homeschooling

In “Build Virtuous Habits & Patterns thru Homeschooling,” Episode, #136, Meredith Curtis gives some practical reality to what Charlotte Mason calls “Patterns & Habits” by zeroing in on 6 character traits (humility/obediene and honor/industriousness/diligence and faithfulness/greeting/service). She gives practical tips and wisdom so that you can use habits and patterns to build these virtues into your children’s hearts and lives. How do you build habits that turn into patterns of living anyhow? Don’t worry! Meredith will show you how!

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Show Notes

How to we instill virtues through habits and patterns?

Model

Scripture Memorization

Role playing/training

Correction

Try, fail, redo, try, succeed, rejoice

Proactive opportunities

Reward

Humility

God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

A teachable heart starts with humility. “I have something to learn and you have something valuable to teach me.”

How to model humility and maintain authority.

Obedience/Honor

Obey immediately, completely, and cheerfully

How children treat parents is how they will respond to God

Obedience Game

Holidays (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, others)

Thank parents/spouse for what they do

Hard Work

The Lord commends hard work and declares that all hard work brings a profit.

Idle hands are the devil’s workshop

How screen time sucks our children’s drive and ambition out

Schoolwork

Chores

Reward hard work

Diligence/Faithfulness

But when the Son of Man returns, will he find faith (faithfulness) on the earth?

He who is faithful in little is faithful in much

Do your best in everything. Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as if working for the Lord

Schoolwork, making bed, clearing plate from table, putting away what you get out, chores

Teach the joy of completion with easy tasks with occasional challenges

Reward faithfulness & diligence with praise and awards

Greeting

Greet one another.

Greeting communicates love and value. Place high value on others

Manners/etiquette

Teach to greet if shy

Greet when you arrive and when others arrive

Always say goodby and “thank you for having me”

Service

You are not the center of the universe

J.O.Y.

Joy of giving and serving

Notice needs

Play the “Let’s discover needs” game

Serve in small ways and grow

Help carry diaper bag/help carry others’ diaper bags/bring in groceries/carry boxes

Bear your own burden and help others bear their burdens

Talk about how fun it was to serve

DON’T complain—complaining saps the joy out of serving!

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Resources

Jesus Fill My Heart and Home by Meredith Curtis

God's Girls 104: Motherhood by Meredith Curtis

How-to-Homeschool Books if you want to learn more about homeschooling or plan to homeschool 😊

Joyful and Successful Homeschooling by Meredith Curtis

Unlocking the Mystery of Homeschooling High School by Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette

Quick & EZ Unit Study Fun by Meredith Curtis

Seven R's of Homeschooling by Meredith Curtis

These are just a few of our many resources that work well for all ages together!

Travel God's World Geography by Meredith Curtis

Travel God's World Cookbook by Meredith Curtis

HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis

More Podcasts You Might Find Helpful

Finish Well Radio, Podcast #080, 12 Happy Habits with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #085, Don't Waste Your Life with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network

Finish Well Homeschooling Podcast, Podcast #104, From Goal to Habit with God’s Grace, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Finish Well Radio, Podcast #041, Get In Shape Spiritually for the New Year with Meredith Curtis on The Ultimate Homeschool Radio Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

12 Happy Habits

In 12 Happy Habits, episode #080, Meredith Curtis encourages you to examine and adopt some habits that will bring happiness and joy into your life, as well as make life, relationships, ministry, and careers more successful and fun. She also shares how to build these, or any habits, into your life by starting with goals that lead to habits that lead to patterns of living.

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Being World Changers, Raising World Changers!

We offer books and ebooks to help you homeschool to the Glory of God!

Show Notes

Happy 2019!

My friend T.J.

Happy Habits

These habits will bring job, success, and blessing to your life and the lives of those around you.

Start Each Day with God
Start Morning with Five Things: Brush Teeth & Hair, Make Bed, Get Dressed, Tidy Room
Greet People (Good morning, Hello, Good-bye)
Listen and Ask Questions
Look for Opportunities to Serve & Go the Extra Mile
Plug Into a Local Church
Tithe
Live Debt-Free
Do Everything with Excellence
Eat Fresh Foods in a Variety of Colors
Exercise Regularly & Cultivate a Life Sport
If You Make a Mess, Clean It Up

From Goal to Habit to Pattern of Living

Some of my New Years’ resolutions have become patterns of living.

We have a million dreams in our heads of who we want to be.

But what is God’s heart for me? To know His will, I dive into His Word, learning that God teaches me my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, I am to honor my parents, he blesses hard work, and He desires unity in relationships.

Having a biblical foundation for my goals, gives me confidence that He will help me.

I start with Measurable Goals.

Once I make measurable goals, I begin. God is for me not against me. He will help me to be faithful if I draw from His strength.

I like to Start Small and build. For example, I start with reading the Bible 5 minutes a day and build up to 30 minutes over a years’ time. That way I don’t crash and burn.

If you are like me, and I hope you’re not, the early weeks will be full of more failure than success. However, I just refuse to give up.

Perseverance is key to building up habit, so no matter how many times you blow it, don’t give up!

Over a long period of time, habits become patterns in your life.

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download