I chose More Than Words: Level 1 for our bible curriculum this year because I wanted something that could guide us in our studies through scripture. In our previous two years of homeschool we used simple devotional books that we read together each day, which were amazing! (The Jesus Storybook Bible and Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science)
Now that my daughter was entering the second grade, I wanted to dig a little deeper. I also knew I wanted something that talked about character, and More Than Words does that and more!
I am going to tell you all about this book and the goodness it contains, but I’m also going to share things that I don’t like about it as well. (Everything has their pros and cons…and they’re probably different for every family!) However, I encourage you to read all the way through, because I’ll let you in on a little secret later on that I think may surprise you!
To get a detailed look inside this book, check out my video HERE for a look-through and review where I discuss some of the same points I make below.
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The book is written to follow a 4-day-per-week schedule.
I love this because we are usually gone one morning of the week. So, I never feel like I fall behind. On weeks where I need a fifth day, I usually just review the week’s material and read the prayer at the end.
Each week covers one specific bible passage, one key truth, a look into fine arts, and one character trait. The weekly lessons follow the same sort of pattern, which makes it super easy to follow as the parent (and child!).
Day 1: Journal Intro, Bible Verse, Key Truth, Copywork
Day 2: Art/Song/Poem
Day 3: Character Study, Coloring Page
Day 4: Drawing, Discussion Questions, and Prayer
Journal Intro
This is a short journal entry to start off the week, written by a character from the curriculum. These characters are based on the author’s daughter and son and some of the experiences they have had.
My children enjoy these very much because it makes the lesson extremely relatable for them. It’s a great way to start off the discussion and dive into what we will be learning for the week.
Bible Verse
After a few discussion questions about the journal introduction (provided in the workbook), the bible verse for the week is introduced. The book encourages you to read it from your bible, but it is also printed directly in the workbook.
Even though the verse is only listed for “Day 1”, we read and recite it each day of the week to work on memorization.
As a side note, I love finding songs that relate to the bible verses. There are so many great Christian groups on YouTube that write awesome children’s songs. So, it’s definitely something we like to add in as we learn the scripture.
Key Truth
Each week there is a Key Truth related to the bible verse. The book encourages you to memorize the different truths each week and has cute review cards to go with it.
We simply discuss the idea and repeat it throughout the week together. The sentences are short and easy to remember and, even better, I love teaching and talking about them with my kids.
Copy Work
A copy work page is provided for each week. This is usually a shortened version of the bible passage. It is also what the kids and I work on memorizing for the week. My kids are 7 and under, so it’s short and easy enough for all of us to say together, even my little ones.
Art/Song/Poem
This alternates each week. Our favorite is the art. We love looking at the different pieces and talking about them. Discussions and questions are provided in the workbook. This makes it easy for me because I’m not very familiar with art.
For the poems, I usually just read it out loud and discuss the questions provided. When a song comes along, I like to find it on YouTube and play it for my kids. We don’t try to memorize it or anything, but we do enjoy listening to what it’s supposed to sound like.
I really love the way this book alternates the three art studies (art/song/poem). It keeps it interesting and we never really tire of them.
Character Study and Coloring Page
This is one of the main reasons I bought this curriculum. Each week, I look forward to the new word based on a character trait. A short paragraph explains the meaning and why it is important. At the bottom of the page, their is usually a circling activity finding synonyms and antonyms of the word in order to help understand its meaning.
It’s been so helpful studying these words because I can use them in our day-to-day discussions and they have so much meaning to us. When I am speaking to a child about a bad choice or if I’m trying to help them make a good one, we can easily bring up these traits, and I love that.
The coloring page is a bonus to the character study. It’s a sweet picture with the character word in big letters. Honestly, my kids complete this when they want to. They aren’t really interested in coloring, but they have asked at times to do it.
Drawing, Discussion Questions, and Prayer
Each week, the lesson closes out with an opportunity to draw a picture about something related to what you’ve been studying. The last page contains a couple of questions to think about and a place for your child to write an answer.
Finally, a short prayer to read closes out your week.
The book is divided into 4 quarters that focus on specific topics.
The topics are, “Who is God?”, “Who Am I to God?”, “Walking the Walk”, and “The Great Relationship”. At the end of each quarter, there is an opportunity to discuss these questions and talk about it more in depth.
The book encourages you to review the “Key Truth” topics as well as the character traits discussed in that quarter. A few options are provided about how to do this.
There is also a hands-on art project that is a part of the review and all directions are provided for this.
Here’s my Confession…
We don’t actually WRITE in the book…AT ALL! Not one bit. I don’t feel that the book is wasted though because we use it to guide our morning discussions.
I originally purchased the book for my second grader to work on independently. However, it turned out to be a part of our morning routine and we all discuss it together instead. All four of my kids participate as we learn verses, sing songs, look at paintings, and talk about character.
The honest truth…I kind of feel like all the writing and coloring and drawing is busy-work. I know that’s harsh, but it felt true in my home. It was just another thing to have to get finished. So, instead I looked at it as another great workbook for our whole family to learn from.
There are times that my children request the coloring page. So, I rip it out and they color as they please, but it’s never my intention to assign them anything from this book. It is purely a guide for our discussions.
My Review
Even though we don’t actually use it properly, I really do love this book. I like the pattern that it follows each week. My kids and I know what to expect and look forward to certain pages. No teacher guide is needed. Everything is right there for you in one book, making it a cost-effective way to study together.
I love that it’s helping us remember different verses in the bible. My three year old even says them with us and it’s one of the main reasons I wanted all of us to use it. We can all learn together as a family.
I don’t really feel like all the writing and drawing is necessary. If you have a child that truly enjoys all of that extra work, then go for it. Otherwise, my suggestion would be to skip it.
I definitely recommend this book if you are thinking about using it. I have even considered using the second book they created as well.
We spend about five to ten minutes each day looking through the book, following the lesson, and practicing the weekly verse. Although it’s not a ton of time, our conversations are meaningful, memorable, and something I look forward to each morning.
