My 3^rd-grader and I were discussing her difficulty in learning her math facts and multiplication tables.  She was bemoaning that it just didn’t come easy to her like it did to some of the other kids.  I told her that even though math wasn’t her strongest subject that all of us have different ways of learning.  I said that we all have basically seven different intelligences, and if we struggle in one area we are probably strong in another.   Yes, I realize she is only 9, but I started explaining to her Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory.   She wanted to know what she was strong in, so I explained, briefly, the seven intelligences:  musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, spatial/visual, mathematical/logical, linguistics, and body/kinesthetics, and then we talked about areas she was strong in.

As teachers and parents it is important that we do not use just one teaching style for all kids.  Not all kids learn well through lecture, or videos, or crafts.   When we can use several teaching methods and styles we are more likely to connect with our students, and thus actually “teach” biblical truth.   There are many websites out there concerning Howard Gardner; his book is entitled Frames of Mind.   There are also many websites that have free testing to determine your levels in the different intelligences; just Google any of these topics to find a plethora of information.   May the Lord bless as you and your children grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many surveys have looked at the different generations in our culture today.  Some have looked at the religious aspect and come up with these numbers of what percentage of that generation is Christian.  Each generation has less Christians than the one before it.

Builders (Born before 1946) 65%

Baby Boomers (Born between 1946 and 1964) 35%

Gen-X (Born between 1964 and 1977) 15%

Generation Y (Born between 1977 and 1994) 4%

Generation Z (Born after 1994)  ??

Judges 2:8-10 (paraphrased) “And Joshua the son of Nun, died.  And all that generation died: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD.”

It is so imperative that we are the torch-bearers.  Let us pass down to the next generation a great knowledge and love for the Lord. 

I recently read a survey done by Willowcreek Church in Chicago.  It is one of the largest churches in America and has a lot of great ministries going on.  They took a survey asking people about spiritual growth.  They asked a lot of questions about how people grew spiritually, and what programs, sermons, etc. helped them to grow in their spiritual lives.  They expected to hear back that the sermons really helped, or that attending church helped, or that volunteering in a certain ministry was very beneficial to their spiritual growth.  But the number one thing that the survey showed was that the very best way to grow spiritually was to be reading and digesting and contemplating the Word of God.     

According to the survey, people who read the Bible and apply it to their lives experience a greater degree of spiritual growth than any other activity.   As you are sharing the Word with children, I would like to encourage you to spend time daily in a planned program of reading the Bible.   I have a Daily Bible that has readings in it for every day of the year.   This keeps me on track, keeps me in the Word every day, and allows me to read the entire Bible in a year.   In your quest to learn spiritual truth, I encourage you to deepen your walk with the Lord.