Preparing for Battle

We have been searching for a quality curriculum to use with our college age Sunday School class and our own children in that age range.  I was intrigued when I found out that we were going to receive RECON for purpose of review. RECON, a comprehensive Christian worldview curriculum designed for students in grades 11-12 mainly, has been met with great excitement in our home.  I am using it currently with our advanced 10th grader and our 12th grader.  I am going to be implementing the curriculum into my Sunday School class as soon as my leave of absence is over.  I can't wait! This is a deep curriculum that is theologically solid. RECON is designed to be used with students completing daily lessons and meeting with an adult mentor and a few other students at least twice a week. Then, students will carry what they have learned with them as they go to college.  Once on their college campus, students can connect with other Recon students to form cell groups with the purpose of growing, dividing, and multiplying on their campus and other campuses. 

     In the weeks we have been using RECON, we have discovered that it is:
R - rooted in God's Word - each of the 72 lessons are rich in scripture
E - evangelistic - students are equipped with all of the scripture, strategy, and motivation they need to share what they have learned with others
C - Christ-centered - students begin by focusing on their identity in Christ and the freedom they have through Christ
O - offensive - once students have worked through the defensive strategies of solidifying their identity and relationship with Christ, they learn strategies to put them on the offensive side of the spiritual battles they will face as they go to college and into adult life
N - networked - students are encouraged to form small groups and allow new small cell groups to form from these.  Cell groups across the country can be networked together through the RECON website.

     There are 72 lesson assignments included in the curriculum.  It can be completed in either a semester, by doing 4 lessons per week, or in a school year, by doing 2 lessons per week.  It is not recommended to complete less than 2 lessons per week because that disrupts the continuity of the lessons and lessens the effectiveness of the curriculum. 

      We have been following the 2 lesson per week schedule, although there have been a couple of times where we have done more than 2 lessons in a week.  One of my boys favorite lessons so far has been Day 13:  The Enemy Within.  This lesson was a study of Galatians 5:13-15 (one of our favorite passages).  I think this lesson prompted more 'after class' discussions than any lesson as of yet.  They love the quotes that the author includes in each lesson as well as the scripture.  Mr. Perry includes applicable quotes from famous figures in history, philosophers, educators, and sports personalities to name a few.  My boys always want to look up the person responsible for the quote to see if they profess to be Christians; so, needless to say, they chase a few rabbits when they are studying.
      One thing the boys have appreciated about RECON is that the lessons are deep, spiritually, but they are not so lengthy that they get bogged down in the written aspect of the lessons. They also love the fact that the curriculum is written from a 'preparing for battle' standpoint.  Most illustrations are military in nature and really reinforce the concept of spiritual warfare.  RECON, just as a word, comes from the word reconnaissance which means:  "the process of obtaining information about the position, activities, resources, etc, of an enemy or potential enemy."  This is so true about this curriculum!  My boys and I have been able to obtain information through scripture and personal reflection about our enemy and are learning how to combat him.  We are loving RECON!
      I have been able to use the teacher manual as I facilitate the discussion sessions with the boys.  The teacher manual is laid out in a user-friendly format.  The curriculum itself requires no materials other than the workbook, a Bible, and something to write with.  As the teacher, I am more of a discussion facilitator -- although I have been going through the lessons myself to be familiar with what the boys are doing.  The teacher manual contains all of the resources I need to be effective as a facilitator.



 

       Developed by Bill Perry, a homeschooling dad of 7, RECON is a solid Christian worldview Bible curriculum which will equip older students for the challenges they will face on the college campus.  He has done a masterful job of creating this curriculum.

     The print version of RECON is available through Lulu and retails for $12.99 for the student workbook, and $21.95 for the teacher manual.   Many of the members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been using RECON for the past several weeks.  To read their reviews, click on the linky below.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a copy of the RECON student workbook and teacher manual at no cost to me for purpose of review.  No compensation was received.**