Would you like to know the best back-to-school item to have for a profitable year of distance learning? No, it's not a new computer, and it's not a new microscope, math manipulative, or the latest educational game. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that the most effective tool you have is simply the positive words you use to encourage your student. [Read more…]

To provide an effective education, it is important to create a daily schedule that works best for your student. Some students work best in the morning, while other students work best in the afternoon. Children need structure and guidance, so it is imperative to the learning process that you put a schedule in place. Do not leave your children's work schedule up to them; this will likely lead to late assignments and poor scores. [Read more…]

Is your high school student ready for the world? Would you like to give him a solid Christian worldview that will prepare him for godly lifelong living? Ignite Christian Academy has exciting news to share with you! For the 2010-2011 school year, we've added a new elective for grades 11-12 that outlines the fundamental truths of the Bible and shows how to apply biblical principles to daily life. [Read more…]

One question we often hear from parents contacting Ignite Christian Academy® for the first time is, "Does the Academy teach evolution?" What the parent probably means is, "What position does the Ignite Christian Academy science curriculum take in the debate over origins of life?"

The quick answer is that Ignite Christian Academy science courses teach that the world and everything in it was created by God in six 24-hour days, just as the Bible plainly says (Genesis 1:31; Exodus 20:11). Academy science teachers also like to point out that scientific facts from paleontology, zoology, botany, molecular biology, geology, etc., can be interpreted from a creationist (Young Earth) viewpoint more readily than from an evolutionary viewpoint.
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"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:26-27).

One of my children's favorite summertime activities was playing outside in our sandbox. It wasn't just an ordinary sandbox; measuring 10' x 15', filling it required a total truckload of sand. My children spent countless hours building superhighways, two-story houses, battle grounds, farms, zoos, ocean beaches, and castles. As my children grew older, they realized the uselessness of trying to build something lasting with sand. Eventually, their treasured sandbox sat empty.
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Many Christian parents and some congregations enjoy marking milestones, graduation for example, by giving a new Bible to the young person(s) who has attained that milestone. Clearly, the desire and intent is that their young people will make Bible reading and Bible study a regular practice in their daily lives.

When such daily Bible reading takes place at home, led and modeled by parents, young people are much more likely to value this practice and continue in it themselves. As their teen's life becomes more tightly scheduled, parents will also be challenged to model creativity and flexibility. In this way they can still keep their teen involved in times of family Bible reading and model for them how to keep this a priority when life gets crowded with competing demands.
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This spring, Ignite Christian Academy Director Gary O'Neill was privileged to attend several of the graduations at locations around the country and delighted to meet many of our most recent graduates and their families. No matter which city he was in (Dallas, Texas; Washington, D.C.; or Orlando, Florida), he saw groups of some of the most committed families and capable young men and women. He heard many wonderful stories about how families were using ICA to enjoy the most creative and enriched education possible today. [Read more…]

Ignite Christian Academy is excited to announce several new courses that will be available for the 2010-2011 school year. The courses are

•Foundations for Living: Studies in a Christian Worldview^™ (SOS or SOO elective for grades 11-12)

•7th Grade Mathematics (SOS or SOO core subject)

•Physical Fitness (SOO elective for grades 9-12)

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"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18a).

What plans have you made for your children this summer? During our first years of being a distance learning family, I made the mistake of failing to plan activities. Tired of following schedules throughout the school year, I wanted to take each day just as it came. Although this idealistic idea of allowing my children to play and explore on their own worked initially, I soon found them bored and looking for things to do. Coming to me for suggestions, they needed a purpose and a plan for each day, even in the summer. Frittering away the summer was simply not going to do, and I needed to stay in tune with God's plan for their lives. [Read more…]

This time of year, it's easy to reminisce about the good memories of summertime! We're all enjoying time off from school (if  not doing summer school) and spending time in the warm weather. We're busy with picnics, swimming, camping, and baseball, and of course, we're looking forward to the fireworks on the 4th of July.

While the celebration of our nation's independence is what we usually think of on this day, many other interesting and important events have occurred on the 4th of July. For example, did you know about these other significant events that happened on July 4th? [Read more…]