Making it Stick!
Someone asked me what our system for memorizing scripture was, and I thought I would share since I just posted about Eliana's 100 verse award. We have used more than one method, so I will highlight the predominate ways God has allowed us to memorize his word.
...small disclaimer here... By no means are we experts. I hope you read this post with a realistic view that we are still learning, and have a long way to go. And on top of that, I (Lindsey) can take almost no credit at all, as James is really our verse memory engineer!
Method # 1 - Fighter Verse Songs
In the past 3 years or so, we have learned many verses simply by listening to the Song CDs of "Fighter Verses"...that's what our church calls their weekly verse memory sets. You can purchase the "Legacy Set" at the Fighter Verse web site. We like to wake up to music, and so as we are all dragging out of bed to the breakfast table, the weekly verse might be on repeat. I guarantee if you hear it enough it will stick! You can even get the Fighter Verse App that has some songs to listen and memorize.
We have also really gotten into the "Seeds Family Worship" albums. In fact, if you passed us on the highways of the twin cities, you might just find us jammin' out to those in our car!
Method # 2 - The Charlotte Mason method of memorization
This has been a great way to keep us reviewing the verses we have learned. Basically, you learn a verse each week, then once you learn it, it gets shuffled into an odd/even review, then into a day of the week review, then into a monthly review. See the link above for specific instructions. We keep ours in our small 3X5 Fighter verse binder, or you can keep it in a an index card box (Not a good idea with little kids that like to dump the whole thing on the floor - it's frustrating to try to put back in order!).
Basically, every morning at breakfast, James (who eats twice as fast as everyone else) begins to review our verses, which we keep on the table or near-by. We start with the ones for the week, and then the ones we are reviewing that day. Now that some of our kids can read, they really enjoy quizzing us, and watching us struggle through verses that we memorized a while back, or didn't really memorize at all.
We also like to stick in the prayer cards we have for people who we pray for in other countries. That way we can take a couple of minutes and pray the verses we just worked on for those who are filed under that day of the week. It's a great way to teach your kids to pray through God's word.
Method # 3 - Integrating it Into Our School Work
Each Monday as part of our handwriting exercise, the kids copy our weekly verse, and then on Tuesdays, they are supposed to dictate it. You can take it a step further, and have them write it by memory on Wednesday, but we don't always get to that step.
So, that's what we do, and so far it has been pretty helpful. Even Hali surprises us, at the breakfast table and says our verses that we didn't even realize she had memorized! I think one of the biggest keys is having them at hand when you have the time to do them. There is nothing so halting in reviewing verses as having to spend 5 minutes looking for them, or re-looking them up in your Bible. So, set yourself up to succeed, and do whatever it takes to make it a habit in your day.
...small disclaimer here... By no means are we experts. I hope you read this post with a realistic view that we are still learning, and have a long way to go. And on top of that, I (Lindsey) can take almost no credit at all, as James is really our verse memory engineer!
Method # 1 - Fighter Verse Songs
In the past 3 years or so, we have learned many verses simply by listening to the Song CDs of "Fighter Verses"...that's what our church calls their weekly verse memory sets. You can purchase the "Legacy Set" at the Fighter Verse web site. We like to wake up to music, and so as we are all dragging out of bed to the breakfast table, the weekly verse might be on repeat. I guarantee if you hear it enough it will stick! You can even get the Fighter Verse App that has some songs to listen and memorize.
We have also really gotten into the "Seeds Family Worship" albums. In fact, if you passed us on the highways of the twin cities, you might just find us jammin' out to those in our car!
Method # 2 - The Charlotte Mason method of memorization
This has been a great way to keep us reviewing the verses we have learned. Basically, you learn a verse each week, then once you learn it, it gets shuffled into an odd/even review, then into a day of the week review, then into a monthly review. See the link above for specific instructions. We keep ours in our small 3X5 Fighter verse binder, or you can keep it in a an index card box (Not a good idea with little kids that like to dump the whole thing on the floor - it's frustrating to try to put back in order!).
We even try to include the Foundation Verses for Chaya and Hali.
Each Monday as part of our handwriting exercise, the kids copy our weekly verse, and then on Tuesdays, they are supposed to dictate it. You can take it a step further, and have them write it by memory on Wednesday, but we don't always get to that step.
So, that's what we do, and so far it has been pretty helpful. Even Hali surprises us, at the breakfast table and says our verses that we didn't even realize she had memorized! I think one of the biggest keys is having them at hand when you have the time to do them. There is nothing so halting in reviewing verses as having to spend 5 minutes looking for them, or re-looking them up in your Bible. So, set yourself up to succeed, and do whatever it takes to make it a habit in your day.
Thanks for the tip about SeedsFamily.net scripture music CDs. I just ordered the 2 that are in ESV. Hope they come quickly
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