Worldview with Apologia's "What We Believe" Homeschool Curriculum
Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 5:00AM 
The biggest part of my job as a homeschooling mom is to disciple my children. They need to know WHAT they believe about the Christian faith, and WHY they hold those beliefs.
Using the Bible as a lens through which they view the world is of utmost importance.
We have been using the What We Believe Worldview Curriculum from Apologia for several years. It started with Anna three years ago, and now Grant is using the books as well.
*We have been using this curriculum for the past three years. I have been compensated to write this post, but I would be endorsing this product whether I was paid or not - we love it!
About What We Believe
The What We Believe curriculum consists of many books and notebooking journals.
*At the end of this post I will be giving away a FULL SET!)
- Vol. 1: Who is God (and Can I Really Know Him?)
- Vol. 2: Who am I (and What am I Doing Here?)
- Vol. 3: Who is My Neighbor (and Why Does He Need Me?)
- Vol. 4: What On Earth Can I Do?
This homeschool curriculum is designed for ages 6-14.
The reading level is more geared towards middle grades, so my son and I are doing this study together. I read aloud while he uses the notebooking journal.
It is non denominational, and references primarily the 1984 NIV Bible translation.
Each book in the series can stand alone, but it is recommended you do them in order. (I agree with this 100%! For review purposes I will be talking about Volume 3, but my son has been through the other volumes first and they naturally lead into each other.)
Each volume has a textbook, notebooking journal, audio CD, and coloring book (for purchase separately).
Apologia has a comprehensive list of FAQs if you want to know more specifics (which I always do when teaching anything having to do with the Bible to my children).
Who Is My Neighbor (and Why Does He Need Me?)
I will be sharing about the main textbook and notebooking journal for Volume 3.
This volume aims to teach our children about developing a servant heart.
The notebooking journal keeps kids engaged and serves as a physical scrabpook for their learning! We love notebooking, so this is right up our alley.
Format/Scheduling of Who Is My Neighbor
There are 8 large lessons in Who Is My Neighbor (and Why Does He Need Me?).
- Does Anyone Really Need Me?
- How Can I Make a Difference?
- Who Is My Neighbor?
- Why Did God Make Families?
- What Can I Do For My Country?
- Why Can't We All Just Get Along?
- Who Is God's Family?
- Why Does the Church Need Me?
As you can see, the 8 sections are critical areas for our children. In uncertain times like ours, it is IMPERATIVE that our children be equipped with truths grounded in the Word of God.
Thank you, Apologia, for this wonderful homeschool resource!
The textbook and notebooking journal give guides for a suggested plan of study, but the lessons can be completely flexible.
We have been completing a lesson in 2 weeks, so at this pace the book will take us 16 weeks to complete.
Three mornings a week we include this study in our routine. It is a wonderful way to start our days!
Apologia has written this book so that is engaging for ALL ages. The stories, real life examples, and cross curricular activities have something that appeals to everyone. The lessons are broken into small sections that allow for even the shortest of attention spans to take part. I could see a family with many children using this study all together, with each child working on a different level.
The Notebooking Journal
The notebooking journal helps keep all hands busy and enhances learning while you are reading the text.
Apologia has intended for this journal to be a true KEEPSAKE, with your child as the author. Our children are taking a great voyage using this curriculum, and their notebooking journal reflects that.
The journal includes comprehension questions. vocabulary words, scripture memory, word puzzles, and (my son's favorite), physical minibooks to be cut, completed, and glued into the journal.
You can view samples of the journal, as well as lesson plans, and more on Apologia's website.
Thoughts on Apologia's Who Is My Neighbor
The busy homeschool mom in me loves that all of the work is done for me! The only supplies necessary for a lesson are the textbook, notebook, our Bible, and basic notebooking supplies.
For a younger participant (like my son, age 8), the notebooking journal keeps him engaged and focused. It serves as a wonderful keepsake and record of this "journey" he is taking!
Apologia's worldview homeschool curriculum is grounded in TRUTH. The Bible is the living and inspired Word of God. Period. I appreciate a curriculum that keeps this central.
The lessons are broken up into small chunks that are manageable. Stories about famous Christians, quotes from figures our children will know (my son loved that the book mentioned Roberto Clemente!), and references to things children like (such as NASCAR!) make the book engaging and meaningful.
We loved the What We Believe books when my daughter started them three years ago, and now we love them again the second time around with another child.
The Specifics of Who Is My Neighbor
View the product page to find out about each of these wonderful resources!
Who is My Neighbor? - $39
Notebooking Journal - $24
Coloring Book - $8
Audio CD - $29
Connect with Apologia
Apologia offers so many wonderful homeschool resources. If you aren't familiar with them, I suggest you follow them through these social media outlets. They are always very generous with giveaways, discounts, and more.
The Giveaway!
Apologia is graciously giving away 4 FULL SETS to my readers.
This means I will be giving away:
1 set Who Is God? Text book, Notebooking Journal, coloring book, and audio CD
1 set Who Am I? Text book, Notebooking Journal, coloring book, and audio CD
1 set Who Is My Neighbor Text book, Notebooking Journal, coloring book, and audio CD
1 set What On Earth Can I Do? Text book, Notebooking Journal, coloring book, and audio CD
Follow the Rafflecopter widget instructions to enter! Good luck!
Reader Comments (95)
To me, worldview is the lens of personal beliefs and convictions that influence the way that we see world events. It's important to teach our children a Biblical worldview so that as events unfold in the world and in their lives, they will keep their eyes on Jesus.
As a New Homeschooler we are always looking for new material. I have heard many good things from others about this particular program. This being our first year I was careful not to buy too much. Going into next year I hope to have a better understanding of ehat is out there. This would be a great addition to our school. I love the opportunity to get one in my hands possibly for free.
Worldview is how we see the world. I want my children to see the world through the lens of God's Word. It will aid them in understanding sin, themselves, and that they and the world are lost without Jesus.
I think world view means how you personally view the world, and for us a biblical world view is how we view everything in the world through a biblical perspective.
I LOVE Apologia's curriculum materials! We have never been disappointed with anything we have ordered from them. Even if I don't win one of the sets I hope to he able to purchase all of them in a few months. These books are definitely the next curriculumateris I would like to purchase.
Worldview to me means the ability to see all things around us as different, but functioning together for one purpose. It's important for my family to see the world from a biblical perspective. The one thing we as the church need to be working towards is sharing the love of God to whomever we meet wherever we go no matter our culture, circumstance, or belief. We'd love to add this resource to our homeschool. What a fantastic giveaway!
I have never heard of this curriculum, but based on your review I believe it will show up in our homeschool next year! I want my children to find their identity in Christ. My whole desire in being a stay at home mom and a homeschooler is to give my children a deep rooted faith in Christ. Love this review! Thank you!
I have looked at this set in the past. It would be a blessing to win.
Haven't tries this set yet but clearly need to.
We have loved working on book one during our family evening
devotions! And would love the rest of the set as we
plan to go through the rest!
To me, worldview means how we view the world. For us as Christians. I think it means that what we teach shows the world from God's point of view, so to speak. Either how he has already worked, or possibly is working now. We need to teach our kids a Biblical worldview, so that they know the standard by which their lives are measured. If our worldview changes relative to each event, then the standard will keep changing also. They need to be able to see God in all things.
KellyH
What a wonderful giveaway!
We have loved working on book one during our family evening
devotions! And would love the rest of the set as we
plan to go through the rest! A world view is important so we know how to
reach out to those who don't know Christ and we can have an understanding
of their thoughts and beliefs and a better understanding of what and why
we believe what we do.
World view is very important to our family. I am
from Northern Ireland and my husband is from
America. We live in the States. We want our kids to have a world
view not only because their roots are from all over
but to understand what God has created better.
A friend of ours mentioned the "Who is God?" set just last week, and I've been thinking about checking into it. After this glowing review, I definitely need to check into it. Our worldview is so important since it shapes how we view absolutely everything in our world! I want my children to see God in everything. Would love to win this set :)
Haven't used it, but know families who have and love it.
What a wonderful resource!
World View is our personal view of the world around us and our belief system. So much of how we perceive everything is directly related to our world view which is often formed by our individual experiences, so it is important to teach our children the unchanging truth of God's Word so they can develop, really, a more hopeful and God-honouring world view.
It means buying into the broken world as the surface things that will go away. Only God is forever.
In today's society, our children need to be able to defend their faith and without a world view, they will never be able to do that. Their world view describes who they are as a follower of Christ!
"World view" is the lens through which we filter all that is happening in our lives and around us. A Biblical world view is so important to us and our kids because we believe God is the center of all we do and the reason for all we do.
World view is the way an individual sees the world. It is important that kids learn a Biblical world view so they can have the correct priorities, know the proper way to treat others, and always try to follow God's will.
My son would love these!
Worldview to me is how we see the world, but even more, how we are guided as we go into the world. Worldview forms the basis of how we make decisions. I want my children to have a Biblical worldview so they can make Godly decisions.
I love, love, love this series. We are on book three and would love to win to get book four. I would certainly share the other books with my friends.
Blessings
Diane Knecht