We really like First Languages Lessons for the Well Trained Mind but I’m not so impressed with the memorization work. Some of it is great but some of it is just poems or nursery rhymes that aren’t impressive. I would rather the kids memorize things that they will really need or at least that’s beautiful!

For Christopher (now in book 3) we’re having him memorize scripture mastery cards – you can get them online for $.25 a set (four sets total.) We pulled out the scripture verses that were smallest to start with, but ones that I felt had meaning we could explain to him. Example – last week he memorized John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” This week it is Doctrine & Covenants 82:10 – “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say ye have no promise.” So we’re starting small! But I like that instead of just poems (and we are still memorizing some of those) he’s learning scripture that will come in handy.

For Moira I was pondering what would be best for her. And inspiration struck! I pulled down our Children’s Songbook and started at the beginning. She knows the first song, of course – “I am a child of God.” The second song is the one they are learning in primary (that is making her cry because it’s minor key) – “I lived in Heaven.” So we went with #3:

I know my Father lives,
And loves me, too.
The Spirit whispers this to me,
And tells me it is true.

Perfect! It’s easier for her to remember because it’s lyrics vs. a scripture (the rhyme helps.) Plus we have the primary songs in my iTunes so I can play the song for her and she memorizes to music so quickly. (And Christopher is learning them, too.) I love that it’s something they’ll be glad to know since they’ll be singing these in primary. I like that they are memorizing teachings of the Gospel. It’s perfect!

Oh, source – the scripture mastery cards, children’s songbook and primary cd you can buy at LDS catalog and it’s free shipping. You can also access the church’s music player through the church website if you want the primary songs for free! I don’t know if you can download them

So whenever there is a new poem for the kids to memorize in either book we’ll use the scripture mastery or primary song instead, unless it’s a poem we like.