5 Simple Ways to Help Kids Memorize Scripture

From Hip Homeschool Moms

Kids are like sponges.  I’m amazed at what my kids manage to soak up from the world around them (sometimes good, sometimes not so good), and even more amazed by what they remember, especially during the times when I don’t even think they are paying attention.  Childhood is the perfect time to have our kids memorize information for future use.  During their school years, they will most likely memorize things such as countries and capitals, world leaders, dates, poems, math facts, and prepositions.  But above all else, make sure they memorize scripture.  The most important thing we can have our children memorize is God’s Word

Not only will memorizing scripture help shape their character, grow their faith, and teach them the Truth, it will be with them always to help comfort them , encourage them, discipline them, and nurture them.  They will always have their armor – belt, breastplate, shield, helmet, and sword (Ephesians 6:14-17) – in their back pocket. Even before our children begin to talk, we can start helping them learn and become familiar with scripture by reciting it to them when we sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up (Deuteronomy 6:7). Teaching our children scripture doesn’t have to be elaborate or hard to implement; it can actually be quite easy and FUN.  Here are 5 simple ways to help your kids memorize scripture

Psalm 23 Booklet--Free Printable

Mija is learning Psalm 23 in AWANA. I thought of a cute way to review the book! I made a booklet she could illustrate herself.

First go get my free printable HERE. (I've also posted in My Printables.) I've made it four different pages, so you can choose to do one at a time if you want!

Here's what you'll end up with after printing.

It's four sheets with four pages on each sheet.

The next job is cutting them apart and punching the hole in each corner.

Sneaky mommy got in some extra review by having mija put the cut cards in order!

Then came the fun part of coloring a picture for each phrase. I left them blank for personal illustrations because she loves to draw more than color and personal illustrations are much likely to become keepsakes!

I think some of my favorite illustrations were a picture of vegetable oil for "He anoints my head with oil," and the dripping blood and dead person for "the valley of the shadow of death."
We then put it together with a paper fastener and viola! 

So, just go HERE to get your own Psalm 23 Booklet and please let me know what you think!

  

Scripture Memory Online

It seems I've been writing a lot lately on memorization. In case you've missed them, I did one about singing as a memory aid and using chants, poems, and cheers.


I found out about two Scripture memory programs online that I thought I'd share.
Scripture Typer is also also available as an iPhone app. MemVerse is developing an app. The whole app thing doesn't really affect me, since I don't have a "fancy" phone.


With both programs, you can sign in and it will keep track of what you're memorizing. Memorizing using programs like these is the fact that you're not only learning visually but also kinesthetically because you type in the verses. Say the verses out loud and you add auditory!


MemVerse has opportunities to win "badges" for memorization and is 100% online. Scripture Typer is also online, but gives you the opportunity to print memory cards. 


I haven't played around enough with either site to determine which I like the best.  Have you used them? Do you have a preference? I'd love to know what you think.

Make a joyful noise--Singing Scripture and other Subjects

A few weeks ago, I posted about my church's ladies' retreat. One of the things that was discussed was Scripture memorization. 
It was reassuring to hear John Piper share that we'll forget 90% of what we memorize, but then we can just memorize it again!

We had a guest speaker, Karen Eppler, share about the Bible memory program she uses for children that involves singing. She even has a cool rebus for each verse. What a way to engage not only auditory but visual learners, as well. You can get her rebuses, tunes, and verses HERE.


Many studies have shown that setting things you want to memorize to music is a great way to help memorize it and retain it. This article mentions that fact as well as giving some ideas like using sign language or movement which would also encourage kinesthetic learners.


One of the easier ways is to bring a tune to Scripture or anything else you want to memorize is to set it to a tune you already know. That's called a "piggy-back" song. I LOVE PIGGY-BACK SONGS!! I'm not creative enough to come up with a new melody AND already knowing the tune means I don't have to memorize that  part.


For instance, my friend Susan (of Susan's Book Group) taught mija and me I Corinthians 13:4-8a ESV by singing it to "Silent Night". I taught my daughter the whole list of prepositions by singing them to the theme from the Micky Mouse Club. I got that here.


There are sooooo many sources of memory songs for both Bible and other subjects. I find a lot on YouTube.com. Sometimes I write them myself. If you're a little uncertain about doing it yourself HERE was a nice article with some suggestions on how to do it.


Just to show what can be done, here's mija singing the first part of the Declaration of Independence which I set to the tune of "This Old Man".  She was 4 at the time.

My Church's Ladies' Retreat--Piper, DeMoss, Chan, and more!!

I was thoroughly blessed at our ladies retreat this weekend although my body is still trying recover!
And yes, we had John Piper, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Jackie Francis Chan, and more  speakers at our retreat. Not in person, but on video!
I can't share all the fun, food, and fellowship, but I can share with you some of the speakers videos and/or information, so you can have your own little retreat at home. Our theme was being Women of the Word.


The first video we watched was:



After dinner, we had a testimony and then heard from Karen Eppler. She's developed some wonderful Scripture memory devices for using with children. In fact, you can find all her ABC verse rebuses and songs HERE.


On Saturday, we started with:

After another great testimony, my friend, Susan shared about Christian women through history. I've mentioned Susan before because she leads the book group I attend. It was such a blessing to see how God has used real women like us. She posted a bibliography and brief description of the ladies HERE.


In the afternoon, we had a breakout session in which we could choose one of three videos to watch. I'm posting the one I watched first, but now I can watch the others, too.
Honoring the Biblical Call of Motherhood--John Piper
Living a Life that Matters--Living Eternally--Francis Chan (scroll down to 3/8/09)
Singleness and the Next Generation--David Platt (scroll down to message #49 dated 6/12/11)


We ended with Nancy Leigh DeMoss' "Daily Devotions--Duty or Delight?" I can't seem to find the video for that, but I know her radio recordings on it are located on Revive our Hearts. She challenges you to a read you Bible 30 days in a row. 


Of course, I can't share everything about the retreat. After all, "What happens  at the retreat, stays at the retreat!! ;-)