KONOS Distinctives

  • Godly character traits focus, grows character

  • Units integrate ALL subjects

  • Hands-on activities use all senses

  • Discovery learning creates critical thinkers

  • Multi-level learning builds families

Godly Character Trait Focus Grows Character

True Christian education goes beyond a trained intellect. It transforms behavior. That is why KONOS designed its units around character traits rather than subjects, literature, or chronology. Instead of merely learning about biblical truths, KONOS kids do mounds of at-home, hands-on activities to practice Christ-like character traits. Training in Godly character is KONOS' foremost objective, yet Godly character without academic knowledge and skills does not fully equip students.

KONOS teaches children academic subjects while kids are learning to practice biblical principles. In the Cooperation unit, for example, kids read in the Bible about parts of the body cooperating, they study the various systems of the body, and then practice ways of cooperating at home. In the Orderliness unit, kids learn about God's orderly universe while practicing their organizational skills in writing and in keeping their rooms clean. The whole family practices and applies what the Bible teaches, so children learn to "walk" what they "talk".

Units Integrate ALL Subjects

Units Integrate ALL Subjects
Units Integrate ALL Subjects

Watch a family using KONOS. Instead of isolated subjects, their kids become wholly immersed in a theme. It's meaningful, because all the subjects fit together. In the Attentiveness unit, children learn about the eye and its importance. They learn from Scripture that the eye is the window to the heart (Bible), do many science experiments like dissecting a cow's eyeball (science), read poetry and idioms related to the eye (language/literature), use eyes to sketch and paint (art/crafts), sing "Be careful little eyes, what you see" (music), write reports on the causes of blindness (health/safety and writing), read biographies of Helen Keller and Louise Braille (reading/history), and practice being attentive to the needs of one another (character).

Hands-on Activities Uses ALL Senses

Crawling on their knees and outlining each state makes geography unforgettable

The KONOS hands-on curriculum captures a child's interest through his senses. He watched a carpenter at work, listens to bird calls, feels lamb's wool, tastes rocks, and smells yeast. While studying the Cooperation unit, KONOS kids cooperate by building their own US map on the driveway. Crawling on their knees and outlining each state makes geography unforgettable for KONOS kids. After dramatizing the Continental Convention, American history is remembering for a lifetime. By building their own tabernacle in the Honor unit, KONOS kids find the Old Testament becomes real and meaningful, by taking apart an old TV, they see first-hand how a TV works! Learning becomes more fun than kids ever imagined.

Discovery Learning Creates Critical Thinkers

True discovery learning is more interested in the process of thinking than it is in the product of an answer.KONOS activities asks kids to explore and then evaluate the world considering what God has made. In the Attentiveness unit, children examine bird beaks and guess the kind of food each bird eats. After they reason an answer, the children then observe the birds to check their answers. True discovery learning is more interested in the process of thinking than it is in the product of an answer. If children are fed step-by-step instructions, they never learn to think. While studying the character trait of Obedience, KONOS kids are asked to be obedient to God's Word and those in authority over them. A study of Medieval times shows how serfs were obedient to Lords. After learning all the architectural parts to a Medieval castle, students design and build their own castle. Discovery learning fosters not only thinkers, but creative thinkers.

Multi-level Learning Together Builds Families

KONOS' desire is to build relationships between siblings as well as keep home schooling mothers sane!KONOS' desire is to build relationships between siblings as well as keep home schooling mothers sane! That is why KONOS believes in multi-level teaching. Instead of one child studying frogs, one studying sound, and one studying airplanes, the whole family focuses together on the same unit at the same time. After teaching each child his individual language and math in the morning, KONOS moms can quit juggling kids and subjects and teach everyone together the chosen KONOS unit in the afternoon.

In the Attentiveness unit, mother reads to everyone about Helen Keller. Older children read about the ear and create an ear model under the dining room table, through which younger siblings crawl. Then, older children research the cause of deafness, while younger children draw the parts of the ear. All practice sign language and punch up Braille messages.

KONOS studies one character trait such as Attentiveness, Orderliness, Obedience, Honor, Trust, Wisdom, Honesty, Resourcefulness, and Cooperation for a month or two. At the same time, we integrate into each unit, science and social studies, art and music, great literature and all our reading, health and safety, and Bible. Each volume is really a teacher’s manual which always includes activities for K-8th grade so you can teach your 6th grader, your 3rd grader and your kindergartner at the same time. With KONOS, you have the structure of weekly lesson plans including daily activities written as part of each unit but still have the flexibility to tailor your curriculum to meet the needs of your own family.