I don’t homeschool for religious reasons. I think it’s completely possible to send your children to school and still help them to develop a love for and faith in God. I see it all the time in the good people I know.
However since Newt is home with me, I find that we naturally have many more wonderful opportunities to discuss our faith than we might otherwise have. I’m ever so grateful for those opportunities, and I actively seek them out. One way I do so is by trying to make a study of the scriptures a part of each day. Here are a few of the things that I have found helpful in this endeavor.

Set the Example
First, I think it is important for Newt to see me studying the scriptures. For years, I have had a goal to spend a little time studying every day. I used to get up early to study in private, before everyone else was up. About a year ago, I decided to try instituting “personal study time” for a half an hour or so right after breakfast. I told Newt she could quietly read anything she liked, but that I would use that time for my scripture study. Most days, she chooses to study hers as well. Even better, she often initiates a conversation about what she has read, asking questions, sharing her thoughts and asking about my reading. We have been able to have some wonderful moments in these conversations.

Journaling and Scripture Marking
I tend to view my scriptures as living, working notebooks. I write in the margins and underline passages that I find meaningful. Here is another place where I see my example rubbing off on Newt. She has begun to do the same thing. After borrowing my favorite scripture marking pencil for the umpteenth time, she was excited to find her own in her Easter basket last year. Newt has a tendency to mark more than she leaves blank, but she is reading – and thrilled to have such a clear visual of her progress.

She also received a set of scripture marking stickers and has loved looking up the passages where the stickers should be placed.  Our sticker set covers both the Old and New Testaments, as well as the uniquely LDS scriptures.

Another way I make the scriptures my own, is by journaling what I read. I made myself a scripture journal based on these instructions. (Hat-tip to Jessica, thanks for sharing!)  Though Newt doesn’t have one of her own yet, she has been very interested in mine.  I may have to make one for her for Christmas.

Memorizing Scripture
Simply Charlotte Mason has a great way to memorize scripture,  or anything else that you may be working on. (Jessica also found this one first.)

We are currently using it to memorize the LDS 13 Articles of Faith, and then plan to begin working on some New Testament scriptures. The process is simple: write the verses you wish to memorize on index cards. Place them in the front of a file box to hold until you are ready to use them.  Create dividers labeled Daily, Odd, Even, the days of the week and dates of the month. Move the verse you are currently working on to behind the Daily divider.  Each day you spend a few minutes simply reciting the verse on that card.
Simply Charlotte Mason describes what you do next, “As you master the verses behind the Daily divider, advance that card and move the replaced verses farther back in the box. So when you have memorized a Daily, move it behind either the Odd or Even divider. Move the verse that was in that Odd or Even slot back to a Day of the Week slot. And move the verse it replaces in the Day of the Week slot back behind a numbered divider. You can then put a new verse or passage to memorize behind the Daily divider and you’re ready to go again.
In this way, you will review a new verse every day, then graduate to every other day, once a week, and finally, once a month. Use the system every day of the month and you will review all the verses you know every month of the year! Of course, not all months have thirty-one days; the verses behind 31 will be reviewed seven months out of the year. We recommend putting verses that you know quite well behind that number since it gets reviewed less frequently.”
I have to admit, we don’t remember to do this every single day, but we are still making great progress with it. Today Newt memorized a passage that has been particularly difficult for her and she was so proud of herself. It was a good feeling for both of us.

Even though I didn’t choose to homeschool based on religious reasons, I am so happy that our faith can be such a big part of out homeschooling day.

How do you approach religious studies at home? Any methods or curriculum that you particularly enjoy?