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  • The Why

    In my last post on curriculum, I alluded to this idea of finding your “why”.  I had asked what you wanted your homeschool day to look like.  However, there is a deeper question, “Why do you want to homeschool?”

    Some circles will encourage you to find your educational philosophy. That would be very helpful and keep you focused on a direction.  However, to begin, find your why.  Are you thinking of engaging in this endeavor, because it looks like your friend is having a good time and her kids are cute and fun?  Do you want to have the smartest kid on the block and you want to make sure they can get into an Ivy League school?  Do you want more family time?  Are you fearful of what you see happening in the local public schools? All of these are valid in their way, but lacking in depth and are based in fear. The Bible says in 1 John 4:18 …fear hath torment.  If you are afraid that your child will not get into the best schools, or will be harmed in the local school.  That may be a place to start, but fear will always haunt you through your homeschooling days.  Am I protecting them enough?  Am I getting the right information into them for that desired school?  Likewise, it may look like someone else is having a grand time, but every homeschooler has hard days, and if that is your motivation you will falter in those tough times. What are some solid reasons for homeschooling that would give you a foundation and a place to cling to when the days are hard?

    Consider homeschooling to give your kids a strong foundation in the Bible and to know Jesus.  Homeschooling affords time, and that time could well be used to disciple your kids in the faith as you walk along the way.  Deuteronomy 6:7 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up.”  I suspect, most of you have heard this verse quoted when talking about homeschooling.  However, it is very valid.  How can you teach the Lord’s principles to your children diligently as you sit in your house and when you rise up and when you walk throughout the day?  I would say, it woud be mighty hard if you weren’t with them at those particular hours of the day.  One of the things that you can cling to is that you are teaching your kids to look to Jesus and walk with him, even on days when it feels hard.

    In fact how we handle the hard moments in life, is the greatest teaching tool we have.  A whole lot of homeschooling is problem solving.  Why is my child struggling in reading or math?  How can I help them?  That begins the research and the trial and error of different methods (not always different curriculum).  Maybe it’s time of day, noise in the room, adding modalities, etc.  The point is, you and your children work to solve this problem, so they can have forward momentum.  My husband worked 2nd shift all through our homeschooling days.  That meant our main family meal was lunch, which we had at noon.  I had to figure out how to schedule my cooking meal prep time so that school was still happening and lunch was on the table for that all important family meal.  On and on you will go throughout your homeschooling resolving one issue after another as they crop up.  You may be teaching math or history, but what else has your child learned.  How to solve problems, how to be flexible, how to research, how to use trial and error, how to work as part of a team, how to encourage the discouraged, and the list could continue.

    Solving these problems with prayer and looking to Jesus teaches them more than problem solving, it teaches them to lean on the Lord and look to his ways.  I had a child once that was mad at me and told me, “I am so tired of hearing you say, ‘the Bible says.’”  I know this one was angry, but in a calmer moment I explained that I really had nothing else on which to base my decisions.  My answers, my ways, my walk need to line up with the Scripture and the Lord that I trust with all my being.  The reason, I explained with “the Bible says”, was partly for me.  Am I walking out my faith in line with what I say I believe?  I hope so.  I had another child who challenged us on Halloween celebrations and whether that was in line with Bible teachings.  We were a young family then, and I was just doing things the way I grew up.  We asked him to research it, and he did.  In the end, we changed our ways because of the challenge from one of our children. These are two great wins in our time with our children.  Pointing them to Jesus and allowing them to research their answers.

    The Why of our homeschool held us together on those days when everything else fell apart.  We were still “Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2

  • Curriculum

    As a homeschooler the first question that I typically receive is, “What curriculum do you use?” It sounds simple enough, but I find it to be a difficult question.  I didn’t use ONE curriculum.  After years of trial and error, we had different things for different subjects.  I used different things for different kids.  I used different things for different seasons.  I used a lot of different things.

    I did a quick google search of my state to see what curriculum they use.  The state has learning standards and local school districts each select their own textbooks or methods for reaching those.  I tried searching my local school district and their textbooks are not publically listed.  Basically, not even the public schools in our country use one type of curriculum.

    It is safe to say that the curriculum market is wide open.  If you have ever been to a homeschooling convention you will know this to be true when you step into the vendor hall.  It is overwhelming and the choices are endless.  I understand why homeschool moms ask about curriculum, I did too. However, I think there are more important first questions that need to be considered.

    What do you want your homeschooling days to look like?  Children watching their videos for the day and completing workbook assignments?  Desks in a room with books and workbooks to be completed?  Reading living books with narrations? A mix of all of these?   Do you want a tradtional school that looks a lot like a public school? 

    There are many different styles of homeschooling and philosophies of education.  I suggest that you do some reading and researching on the different ways and thoughts on education.  Also, do ask that older homeschooling Mom.  However, I suggest you ask questions along the lines of  how.  As in, “How do you teach math?  How do you approach language arts?”

    These questions and thoughts will begin to inform your curriculum decisions.  Your curriculum is the tool that you will use  as a means to provide the education you wish your child to receive.  Whether that includes a package of workbooks, a streaming video provider, something you develop on your own or a mix of all of the above.

    Perhaps you decide that you love the idea of a classical education with Charlotte Mason ideas and want to use living books and narrations.  You will need to look at curriculum sellers that have this as their philisopy of producing materials.  In some cases, you may not need to actually purchase a curriculum.  You may be able to follow a living books list or develop one of your own.  Use a free curriculum guide like Ambleside Online.

    You may decide to be quite eclectic with developing your curriculum.  You may use a living books approach with history and a textbook/workbook approach for science.  Maybe you find that for this season, you need a box of workbooks that can be graded and checked off.

    The point is, there is no one way to homeschool.  You need to evaluate the season of life you in and the goals you have for educating your children. Then follow those to find resources that will support your vision.

  • It’s Over, Let’s Begin

    My homeschooling years have come to an end.   In the back of my mind, I always knew that they would.  I used to tell my children that I raised them to go.  I was not pushing them out, but the point was that they would launch out and start their lives. Here we are, some 28 years later, and I am finished homeschooling all eight of them.

    They have moved on to their adult lives, and my husband and I are empty nesters. Every summer for 28 years, after a short break, I sat down with books, schedules, websites, and ideas.  I planned our school year, which never went according to plan.  Homeschooling was my full-time job.

    Something I wished for in all those years was another homeschool mom further down the road to talk to about homeschooling.  Sometimes I found an older mom to chat with; in some seasons, I did not.  One magazine that I used to read had a section titled “A Day in Our Life”.  I used to eat that article up every time it arrived. I wanted to see how other people were doing things and glean ideas for what might work in my house.

    This blog is not my day in the life anymore; it is my way of connecting with younger moms and perhaps giving them insight into 28 years of experience.

    Grab a cup of coffee and let’s begin!! .