Most every parent wants to instill virtue in his or her child, and one Frog-turned-mom has crafted a way to effectively teach it. Jenifer (Jenny) Molohon Mahler ’77 (MM ’84) – author, musician, composer and mother of four – combines her musical gifts, 20 years of home-school teaching and passion for growing children in the ways of Christ into a curriculum emphasizing character development. Started a few years ago, “Conquering by Virtue” is a multi-sensory, hands-on program featuring scrapbooking, skits, poetry and original music by Mahler that teaches children about 12 virtues. Kids learn about the virtues from a biblical perspective and then create a scrapbook using photos of themselves demonstrating each virtue.

The program (www.virtuousconquerors.com) has been very well received, with Mahler receiving orders nationwide from Sunday Schools, homeschoolers, scrapbookers and groups such as scout troops. Christian Book Distributors (CBD) also carries her books. Scrapbook of Virtues Volume 1 is for elementary school ages to adult, while Volume 2 is designed for junior high kids to adults.

“My goal is to teach children to think biblically so that any area of their lives will have access to wisdom and discernment at any time,” she said, explaining that she uses the “Principle Approach,” which teaches people to think and reason from the scriptures; as well as relies on Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary, which used scriptures to see how God used words.

Long term, Mahler would like to see Virtuous Conquerors as a retreat ground with ropes and obstacle courses where kids can exhibit the virtues as photographers capture the action for their scrapbooks.