The Kingdom Code Review

Homeschooling involves so much more than learning book work. It's not just reading, writing, and arithmetic to get a passing grade. I believe in the importance of giving my kids a full education that focuses on not only traditional school subjects, but experiences that will help them throughout life with practical applications.

The Kingdom Code is dedicated to that same life skills mentality. This hands-on program is all about money management and entrepreneurship--for kids! In a day when large sums of debt and needless spending are common, it is vital to teach our children how to handle money. The Complete Starter Kit comes with everything you need to not only help your kids make money at a young age, but also what to do with that money.

The Kingdom Code: Make and Manage Money... God's Way! was created by Jimmie Byler to answer God's call for her life. A combination of her successful businesses, a supportive family, and classroom teaching made this course possible. Its purpose is to "equip students at an early age with money management skills based upon Biblical principals." Jimmie believes it's important for kids to grow their own business to not only understand the joys and challenges that accompany entrepreneurship, but also to learn financial, social, and organizational skills. Wrapped in Biblical truths, this course is filled with many life skills and practical advice.   

The Complete Start Kit comes with the following materials:

• Student Textbook
• Student Pack
• Teacher's Guide

The Student Textbook is the actual curriculum of the program. This spiral-bound book has 244 glossy, thick, full-color pages with 800 pictures and images. Throughout the 27 lessons, kids will learn "to build a business, manage money successfully, and develop valuable life skills" all with a gentle study of economics, budgeting, history, math, Bible, and practical thinking. Each lesson follows the same format with 8 main sections:

• Proclamation -- Biblical principle
• Check Your Path -- worksheets
• Quest for the Clue -- introduction to the theme and goals of the lesson
• Code of Honor -- the target skill of the lesson, incorporates a Bible verse
• Treasure Seeking -- practical skills taught through stories, ideas, activities, and other methods
• On Your Own -- activities and projects completed apart from class time
• Kingdom Keys -- review of lesson with 3 key ideas
• Congratulations -- celebratory end of lesson with placing a sticker on the Treasure Map
• Bonus Code Work -- optional projects to supplement the lesson

The lessons may also include various other components such as Action Time, History Highlights, and Share Your Thoughts. Another fun addition is the Letters from Aunt Jimmi sections which stories from the author's real life experiences. 

Each lesson covers many educational elements including essential questions, a learning goal, skills, vocabulary words, review, and enrichment projects. These parts all work together to make a thorough entrepreneurial and money-management program. 

The Student Pack has all the consumable pages of the curriculum, including over 100 vocabulary flashcards and a receipt book. There is a worksheet to complement every lesson. Each one follows the same format (Check Your Path, Key to the Lesson, Key Ideas, Key Terms) and fills the front and back of a single page, except for the review lessons which use two sheets. The majority of the exercises are fill-in-the-blank, but a few other types are also woven throughout, such as multiple choice, matching, and crossword puzzles. 

Also contained in the Student Pack is a list of activity pages. These pages include things like a business plan, surveys, tips and exercises for means of sale, various planning techniques, business math, ledgers and checkbook examples, and more. These activities are filled with many strategy helps and practical explanations and are designed to give students a working knowledge of these life skills. 

The forms and notices section of the Student Pack is where the student will find calendar pages, a sale form, ledger, business permit, income statement, business ideas, and the like. These pages, along with the activity pages, are on thick paper with pictures, images, and pops of color.

One final aspect is a large, glossy map that guides the budding entrepreneur through the curriculum. As a lesson is completed, a sticker from the provided sheet is placed on the corresponding number. The map resembles a real treasure map complete with castles, ships, and even a sea monster. Of course, X marks the spot on the true treasure--the final lesson of the course signifying all the student has learned about managing both a business and money.

The Teacher's Guide makes the curriculum easy to teach because it takes the work out of planning. The guide takes the teacher step-by-step through the lessons with ideas and tips. There is a place for lesson notes, worksheet answers, and additional enrichment suggestions of online videos, games, teaching sites, stories, inspirational things, projects, activities, and more.

The Teacher's Guide also contains directions for setting up the program (with 3-ring binders, tabs, bags), master sheets and forms, feedback cards, assessments and tests, and additional enrichment links.   

There are additional supplies you can purchase to enhance the experience, as well. The JR KCK (Kingdom Code Kids) Budget kit is designed to teach kids who are too young for the full program about budgeting. It includes a simplified plan, a handful of coloring pages, and a sticker sheet.

The coloring book is also great for little learners. This 32-page book has many fun medieval pictures of knights, castles, and treasure along with more modern drawings of KCKs and budget coloring sheets. Each page has a Bible verse (various translations) and/or a character quality proclamation.

The Kingdom Code was originally written to be taught as two 45-minutes classes per week over 34 weeks, but is easily adaptable for any schedule. Though it is designed for grades 3-6, I have been working through the program with my upcoming 6th grader and 9th grader. Both kids have shown interest in entrepreneurship, so I knew this material would be very beneficial for them. Besides, it is vital for all kids to learn the importance of managing money well. The Complete Starter Kit has everything you need for one student; to add another, you need only an additional Student Pack.

The kids and I sit together as we work through the lessons. I read the portions in the student book and discuss the ideas with them. The lessons can last anywhere from 30-60 minutes, depending on how much our conversation twists and turns with the topics. They each fill out their worksheets during this time. Any activities vary between completing by self and completing together as a group.

The book is divided in short sections, making it both easy-to-follow and non-overwhelming. There are charts, graphs, and plenty of pictures to help visual learners. There are many Bible verse sprinkled throughout the pages. Many different versions are used, so we choose to take turns looking up the passages in our own Bibles.

Though the curriculum is geared toward a younger crowd, we have been able to easily adapt the suggestions for our family. No, I don't require my 13-year-old to stand and shout the proclamations or insist the kids play some of the more juvenile games, but the vast majority of the program is applicable and beneficial for any age. Our favorite parts are the additional enrichment ideas. In fact, my kids still talk about a video we watched many weeks ago about free enterprise. We also like to quiz each other with the flashcards.

   
The book focuses on  services businesses, but both of my kids are interested in goods businesses (sewing and 3D printing). Some of the aspects we've had to be flexible with, but over all, the instruction is relevant.

There are so many valuable skills taught through this curriculum. I could never list them all, but here are a few of the big ones:

• Budgeting
• Contentment
• Giving
• Work Ethic
• Self-Confidence
• Problem Solving
• Communication Skills
• Economics
• Organization
• Character

I have been very impressed with The Kingdom Code and all that is taught through this curriculum. Teaching kids a strong work ethic and money management skills are incredibly important, but this program prepares kids for much more than those. Even if your child isn't showing interest in entrepreneurship now, The Complete Starter Kit is still a valuable resource for many life skills.

If you'd like to take a closer look at the curriculum you can sign up for free lesson samples on their site and let them know we sent you! Also, you can save 10% off all Kingdom Code products using my coupon code 10TKC11.

Have fun making and managing money God's way!



You can connect with The Kingdom Code on the following social media sites:
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You can read more reviews and see what other businesses kids have created on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Word of the Year: 2018

When November rolls around and everyone starts preparing for Thanksgiving, I begin praying about my word for the next year. That one little word that will be my focus for the next 365 days. I've explained in previous years how this is different from resolutions in that this word is more of a redirecting of my life. It's a process with no specific end goal. This journey is meant to impact our lives and change them indefinitely.    

Prior years have been purge, praise, and teach. (I had no idea just how much that last one was going to perfectly fill needs in our life during my recovery, but God knew.) 

For the past 3 years, I've had multiple options for my word floating around in my head for weeks. I'd pray about the choices and wait for God to narrow it down for me, to make that word obvious to me and ingrain it on my heart.

This year . . . nothing.

Oh, I tested out a bunch. I'd hear a word and think, "Hmm, that might be a good one," or "I think I'd like to make that my focus next year." But that was it. It was just my own desires that were intrigued. The end of the year was nearing, and I was getting worried. "Lord, what do you want me to make a priority in our home? Which word should we improve in our lives?"

And every time, He'd answer in a whisper. Just a faint reply, but each time audible enough that I heard. 

Give.

This word had already been impacting our lives in an increasing amount the last many months. I think I was looking for a flamboyant display for a new direction, but instead, God had been weaving this passion quietly into my heart for some time. 

give, verb:

1. freely transfer a possession 
2. provide or supply with

Give. Time. Money.

Leighton and I are entering into our next stage of parenting. Our oldest is 12 years old and nearing those teenage years. His skills have advanced to the point where he can do just about anything around the house. Our youngest is 3. And though I desperately miss the coos of a baby and the unsteady steps of a toddler, I admit that his ever-growing independence is kinda nice. My kids still require a lot of me--especially adding in the home educating aspect--but my days are no longer filled with feeding and changing and getting-to-nap and soothing and all those things that a tiny one demands. I'm no longer in the someone-needs-me-every-second-of-every-day stage. The days are busy (obviously, because I am just now posting this 10 days into the new year, ha), but it's a different kind of busy. 

For years I had to step back from certain ministries because of my greater responsibilities. I was still involved, for sure, but there were some activities I could not volunteer to serve in because my little ones needed me, all of me. 

As my kids require less of me in their quest toward self-sufficiency, there's more of me available for others. I want to give of my time, my attention, my prayers, my concern. I want to be willing to minister more at church or help in the home of a friend. My family is my main responsibility, my number one ministry, but I want to make the time to give of myself to bless others.

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:16

Money. I know, it's not something people like to talk about. Everyone has needs. And, let me just say, with 5 kids in the house, someone is always needing something. Shoes--what do you mean they're too tight? Pants--why can I see your ankles? Socks--holes already? And you can imagine how much food is consumed around here. 

But, oh, the blessings and ways in which God has supplied. From my husband's well-providing job to the money-saving deals I find to the generosity and hand-me-downs of others, we find that every need is met and so many desires are fulfilled. We don't always have the best of the best, but how could we not be thankful when God cares for us so? 

Giving has been manifested throughout my whole life. My parents are the most giving people and have monetarily helped others in countless ways, and my husband has had benevolence imprinted on his heart ever since he depended solely on the gifts of others. But there is still a limit to our giving. 

I want to push that limit this year. 

That's a bit of a scary thought! And the reason I was hesitant to acknowledge that whisper of His reply. Trust me, I have a whole list of ways in which I could spend that money. (Home renovations, anyone?) But I truly feel that now is the time to focus on helping others. 

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 

Proverbs 3:27

Our focus for 2018 will be giving of our time and money. Just like Jacob built an altar to solidify his commitment and Joshua set up a stone memorial as a testimonial of God's provision, this Word of the Year is my accountability to follow through with His leading. May God use us to bless others and teach us valuable lessons in return.




You can read more Word of the Year posts from my friends on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Wordless Wednesday 2/25/15