I know moms that schedule their days in 30 minute increments and others who take each day as it comes. I know moms who can’t function without a fair amount of structure and others who feel stressed by schedules and to-do lists.

Do you know which type of mom you are? I think that I’m somewhere in the middle. I’m more of a routine kind of gal than a stringent schedule keeper. The more that I can get the boys to take responsibility for staying on track, the happier I am though, so that does require me to at least do a little planning ahead.

No matter if your day is staying on schedule or if it careens wildly off course, you can just ask the Lord for guidance, take one step at a time, and as Elisabeth Elliot says, “Do the next thing.”

I leave you with a poem that she often quoted.

Do The Next Thing

“At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, ‘Do the next thing.’

Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Do the next thing.”

Enjoy every minute!

~Deborah Wuehler

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by authors above. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Deborah Wuehler is the senior editor for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. She resides in Roseville, California, with her husband Richard. They are the parents of eight children: three teenagers, three elementary, a preschooler, and a baby. They have been homeschooling since the birth of their firstborn who is now graduated from high school. Many of her articles can be found on www.Crosswalk.com, and many other homeschooling sites. She is a group leader in her local homeschooling support organization and she loves digging for buried treasure in the Word, reading, writing, homeschooling, and dark chocolate! Email her at senioreditor@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

Recently, when a missionary friend was visiting from Japan, I offered to keep his son for a day to free him up for some appointments. Since Rees was alone, I invited my grandson Eli over as a playmate, hauled out a huge crate of Legos, and set the boys loose. I could barely pull them away to eat a hasty lunch before Rees declared, “Can I go back upstairs now? Legos don’t build themselves, you know!”

So what does this little anecdote have to do with writing? Simply put, just as a Lego vehicle can’t take shape without the intentional efforts of a builder, your child cannot learn to write without intentional effort from you.

At conferences and conventions, we often hear parents ask, “How much time does this writing program require of ME?”

We’re a busy bunch, so believe me when I tell you I understand what it’s like to homeschool while trying to juggle laundry, meal preparation, ministry obligations, and a social calendar. But I also learned during my 15 years of homeschooling that certain subjects just don’t teach themselves, and writing is one of them.

Wisdom from Cathy Duffy

In an article for the Home Educating Family, Cathy Duffy, author of 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum says, “Many of us have an unfortunate tendency to rely on the textbook to teach the subject.” She adds:

Don’t rely on workbook exercises to teach young people how to write effectively, or you are likely to be disappointed. Writing needs to be an interactive, shared process. That will not happen unless we make development of writing skills a priority in junior and senior high children. This means that we take extra time and seek out the resources and assistance we need to make that happen. 1

Much as we wish it weren’t so, kids don’t learn to write by osmosis. They need your instruction, your guidance, and your feedback. Along with that, be consistent. Just as they can’t learn to write unless they are taught, they won’t learn to write if you only give a writing assignment now and then.

Tips for Teaching Writing

• Choose a writing program that offers strong parent support through lesson plans, schedules, teaching and editing tools, checklists, and objective grading forms. When you feel equipped, it’s so much easier to explain a new concept or offer suggestions!

• Make teaching writing a regular part of your school week. With littler ones, this may mean a daily investment of sitting together to practice new skills. Older students may not need you to sit with them through every stroke of the pen, but definitely set aside time to teach or review concepts and give constructive input.

• Offer helpful and consistent feedback. An arbitrary grade based on feelings (”This feels like a B+”) won’t help your child become a better writer. Instead, use objective checklists to help you pinpoint specific areas to improve.

• Praise the things they do well. An approving tone and encouraging words can go a long way toward soothing the sting of a critical comment. Make sure you’re noting things such as strong topic sentences, well-developed arguments, and concrete word choices and not simply commenting on mistakes.

Though we’re not all strong or confident writers, we can’t let that keep us from investing in our children’s writing. Remember: writing doesn’t teach itself. Our kids need us. Really! And today, more than ever, there are tools at our fingertips to help each of us teach successfully!

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Kim Kautzer, veteran homeschooler and author, loves to help parents feel more confident about teaching writing. She is the co-author of WriteShop, honored as one of Cathy Duffy’s 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. After 15 years of homeschooling, Kim and her husband Jim graduated all three of their children. The couple makes their home in Southern California, where they enjoy their empty nest and their six amazing grandchildren. You may reach Kim at kim@writeshop.com.

1 Duffy, Cathy. “Write Now!” The Home Educating Family Fall 2007: 4-6.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

If it were not for my adventurous imagination, school would have been like solitary confinement in a maximum security prison. In elementary school my high grades reflected only my ability to memorize facts; my level of reasoning and comprehension remained below average. In high school, where a higher level of reasoning was required, my grades tumbled and with it, motivation to apply myself to study. “Why would anyone “give their all” when there are so few rewards and so much failure?” I reasoned.

If labeling a child for inattentiveness or hyperactivity had been prevalent during my childhood, I certainly would have been a candidate for ADD, ADHD, BDHD, ZDDD! I was “a handful” with an indefatigable spirit. For me, school was imprisonment. Looking back, I attribute this distaste for school to four factors:

1. Underdeveloped reasoning capabilities
2. Environmental pressures and stress
3. Fear
4. Character weakness

The first, underdeveloped reasoning capabilities, is a common problem especially in the early years of growth. Every child’s mental capabilities grow at different rates, and children of the same chronological age are often at different developmental stages. Children are neither meant to nor able to grasp the same content that the teacher or parent presents. Forcing or pressuring a child to learn beyond his/her capabilities will only frustrate and, in the end, lower his level of reasoning. Children subject to this approach rarely reach their potential as fear suppresses the ability to learn.

Fear, I believe, is the single greatest factor that impedes a child’s ability to learn. When the level of fear is high, the level of reasoning is low. Lower the level of fear and you will see the level of reasoning and risk-taking increase. Risk-taking is essential in the learning process. Without risk, children will persevere to unlock those “mental blocks” in order to achieve mastery. For example, a fearful, insecure child learning division for the first time will be easily frustrated and more apt to give up before this challenging concept is understood and applied through repetition and trial and error. The greater the fear, the lower the level of risk-taking and reasoning. Some children are born with an inquisitive nature and actually enjoy facing obstacles. They enjoy the process of discovery and remain motivated until the answers are found. These children do not succumb to fear easily. Their mental abilities are strong enough to carry them through most learning environments.

We must strive to lower the level of fear in order to raise the level of reasoning. The first and most significant fear factor is found at home. The stronger the relationship between mom and dad, the more security a child possesses, enabling him to tackle life’s challenges. When a child fears that the relationship that holds his life together is breaking down, feelings of insecurity and worry are often insurmountable, resulting in an inability to concentrate. Other fear factors that contribute to a child’s learning difficulties include the fear of failing; fear of an angry parent, teacher, or principal; fear of peers; fear of the death of a loved one; and more recently, the fear of terrorism. Though this list is not exhaustive, it does represent some of the destructive fears a child faces today. In light of war and terrorist threats, the threshold of fear for children has significantly increased.

So how do we address these external fears that paralyze our children? If relationships at home are healthy, then a child’s ability to cope with external fears comes from his internal value system. Let me explain. The reason a child is devastated when conflicts arise between parents is because a child’s parents are one of his most valued treasures. Children place a priceless value upon a mom and dad who love each other. When there are unresolved conflicts or divorce, a child’s greatest value has been threatened or destroyed, thus suppressing his motivation.

For children who have an undeveloped level of reasoning but an overdeveloped imagination, there is only one alternative while being held captive in school, and that is to escape! Yes indeed, while listening to the lectures of well-intentioned teachers, children like me appear to be listening, but we’ve really been transported to some distant land. For example, when the history teacher begins to lecture on Marco Polo, children like me are riding in the caravan as we are about to meet Ghengis Khan. Unfortunately, by the time our imagination is brought back to the teacher’s presentation, we are so far behind that we are lost, grappling for someone to help us. We look over to our neighbor only to view their extensive notes compared to our empty page. Next, we are asked to pay attention only to feel embarrassed. Fear settles in, the defenses go up, and off we go to another distant land.

Our low test scores and inability to comprehend what we read are poor indicators of our true abilities. If you could interview my high school teachers and ask if Mark Hamby would be a likely candidate for three master’s degrees and a Ph.D., they would politely smile and then laugh. They would ask if this is the same Mark Hamby who hated to read, scored poorly on tests, was easily distracted, and would be remembered more as the class comedian than a scholar. How did such a disdain for reading and learning turn into an insatiable desire to grow in knowledge, instruction, and wisdom? This is not to suggest that I’ve arrived, but oh, I do desire to learn. Before we answer the question of “how,” let’s first look at the reasons behind the lack of motivation to learn:

Value—that which we treasure the most.

Motivations are driven by what we value. When a child’s values have been threatened or destroyed, he will build up walls behind which to hide, thereby protecting himself. There is just no room for confidence and self-worth. His most treasured values have just been shattered, and he is not going to be hurt again! These children are often misjudged and devalued by well meaning adults.

Allow me to illustrate. As I was writing this article I was aboard an airliner. Seated in the front row, I was struggling to come up with a synonym for the word “determined.” So, being the shy introvert that I am, I asked the flight attendant seated a few feet in front of me for her help. She smiled and said, “How about the word ‘driven’?” “Perfect,” I said. “That will work.” A few minutes later she asked if she could hear how it sounded in the sentence I had written. This evoked a conversation on values and motivation. I explained how I believe peace at home is an essential component to self-worth which is governed by our motivations, which are driven by what we value, thus laying the foundation of our character.

“Children who live in fear possess weak character because their self-worth and motivations are based on what I call “descending values.” Descending values are self-centered rather than God-centered, and character that is developed in an environment of fear is “self-centered.” Children who have been hurt and are afraid of more attacks will insulate themselves as much as possible. The more they protect and isolate themselves, the more they “descend” and fall away from the only true source of love and protection—God Himself. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us, but this doesn’t guarantee a life without pain. It does mean that we can trust Him no matter how difficult life may become. When we value God and His promises, we quickly learn that He is a God who can be trusted. Unfortunately, those who live in fear often trust their self-prescribed protection more than the God of infinite love and resources. The tightly-clung-to values of self-preservation soon decay as a myriad of other protective devices replace the old descending ones.

The flight attendant then did something that surprised me. She removed her seat belt and stood beside me. She began to tell me how her parents divorced when she was in fifth grade. She described the fighting, yelling, and physical abuse that molded her childhood. Then she said something that added further confirmation to my thesis. She said that she could remember her report card in fourth grade. Her school graded by letters such as “N” for “needs improvement” or “G” for “good work” etc. She said she could remember receiving all N’s. But one in particular stuck in her mind. It was an “N” for show and tell. Because she had refused to stand in front of the class to show and tell anything, the teacher interpreted this as disobedience, and evaluated her as an uncooperative child. I see this as a child who was afraid of rejection and hurt, resulting in low self-worth, low risk, and a longing for somebody to protect and love her!

Oh, may God open our eyes. Our children need our unconditional love and protection. They need to know, experientially, that they are fully loved, fully known, without any fear of rejection. Children who know they are unconditionally loved, in spite of what others know about them, will be more willing by God’s grace to admit their weaknesses/sins and ask for help. They will be more willing to remove the mask of safety and tear down the walls of protection if they sense that we have their best interest in mind. Children who sense that they are loved in this way, will possess a lower level of fear, which in itself is a powerful motivating factor toward “ascending” values and character development. Allow me to explain. Fear, according to John in his first epistle, involves punishment. But perfect love casts out fear. In the context of John’s discourse on fear and love, he is referring to eternal judgment. But John wants his readers to know that those who know God, or are known by Him, do not need to fear punishment because God has already demonstrated His great love toward them through the life and death of His Son. Because of this great love, we are presented with life’s highest possible value; a value of such worth that once found, one would be willing to give anything to possess it.

With God and His Son as our highest value, we are motivated unto love and good works because we know how much He gave on our behalf. It’s quite simple. When someone does something for you that is sacrificial and loving, it motivates you to reciprocate in some way to show your appreciation for their love and sacrifice. Because you have been greatly valued, you in turn are motivated to love and sacrifice for others. For the believer, new motivations are driven by a new sense of value—God and His lavish love. It is amazing what happens when we place a high value on others. Children and adults become motivated to please because they appreciate being valued, and value reciprocates value; it ascends. God valued us, and we in turn value Him and others.

Misunderstanding the depth of God’s unfathomable love (and if unfathomable, we can never truly comprehend its depths) is the single greatest reason why a Christian would possess a low self-worth. When one realizes how much they are fully loved (valued), having no fear of rejection, their level of fear decreases and their level of reasoning and risk-taking increases. This, too, is ascending. The higher one feels valued, the more a child is motivated to learn regardless of failed attempts. In fact, they begin to see failure as one step closer to success. I believe that it was Theodore Roosevelt who once said, “Success is failure upon failure, with great enthusiasm!”

May your children truly experience the freedom to grow in an environment of grace this summer. Surround them with heroes and heroines who model persevering character and noble deeds. May Summer truly be a time for growth in your dear family.

Recommended Reading for:

· Boys ages 12 and up:
Shipwrecked; Sir Knight of the Splendid Way; Titus: A Comrade of the Cross; Stick to the Raft; The Highland Chairman; The Captive; Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross; The Archives of Anthropos; The Pillar of Fire; Boys of Grit Who Changed the World; Boys of Grit who Became Men of Honor; Joel: A Boy of Galilee.

· Boys ages 8–12
Teddy’s Button; The Bird’s Nest; Christie’s Old Organ; Christie the King’s Servant; The Lost Ruby; Tom Watkin’s Mistake; The Stolen Child; The Golden Thread; Clean Your Boots, Sir?; The Inheritance; The Hedge of Thorns; Tales of the Kingdom Trilogy.

· Girls ages 12 and up:
The Lamplighter; Sir Knight of the Splendid Way; Rosa of Linden Castle; The Wide Wide World; Titus: A Comrade of the Cross; The Pillar of Fire; The Three Weavers; Always in His Keeping; The Hedge of Thorns; What is Her Name?

· Girls ages 8–12
Probable Sons; The Little Lamb; Nobody Loves Me; The White Dove; The Bird’s Nest; Jessica’s First Prayer; Melody; Tales of the Kingdom Trilogy; Christie’s Old Organ.

· Preschool–7 years old:
The True Princess; The Beggar’s Blessing; The Hedge of Thorns Illustrated; Bible Stories for Little Ears (audio drama); Patch the Pirate (audio—fun filled character lessons with Patch and his crew.)

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Serving my King by serving you, Mark Hamby, President of Cornerstone Family Ministries & Lamplighter Publishing.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

Homeschooling has changed tremendously in the last twenty years. In the early 1980s, few parents considered homeschooling their children. The legal and logistical obstacles discouraged most from considering homeschooling as a viable option. Some parents even went to jail or fought in the courts for years because they believed that it was the right of parents to direct the education of their children. The situation is far different for most homeschoolers today. It seems unlikely that homeschooling will ever be illegal in the United States again. In most states, there seems to be a truce on the legislative front, allowing homeschooling to remain legal, albeit with varying levels of restriction.

However, opposition to homeschooling—and, for that matter, to Christian education in general—continues. While homeschooling may not be made illegal by legislation, certain “educational reforms” can make homeschooling less desirable for parents and their children. Educational reform today is increasingly focused on “core curriculum”, which, unfortunately, is not defined as strictly academic knowledge and skills. And it is educational professionals, politicians, and testing companies, rather than parents, who define what this “core curriculum” includes, both in content and emphasis.

The “crunch” comes when homeschoolers seek to enter college or even gain employment. Even today, some colleges are beginning to reject high school courses taught from a Christian perspective. In addition, standardized testing is being shaped in ways that may put students at a disadvantage for college entrance or even employment if their education has not focused on the state-defined core standards or curriculum content.

College Enrollment

Consider the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Federal Court in August by the Association of Christian Schools International, Calvary Chapel Christian School in Murrieta, California, and several students enrolled at the school. The civil rights lawsuit alleges viewpoint and content discrimination by the University of California (UC) system against high schools that teach creation and other conservative Christian viewpoints. The Christian schools primarily use Bob Jones and A Beka textbooks. The plaintiffs argue that barring students from admission violates the right to free speech and the right to religious freedom of the Christian schools and students.

The Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS), a committee of the UC Faculty Senate, sets the guidelines for admissions to the University of California system. They have rejected certain textbooks after they determined that the textbooks are primarily religious and academics are secondary.

Burt Carney, Director of Legal/Legislative Issues at ACSI, states that this is not just about science textbooks (creation vs. evolution) but about all texts that have a strong Christian emphasis. The board has also rejected the history textbooks American Classics for Christians, Volume V, by A Beka, and United States History for Christian Schools, published by Bob Jones University, for similar reasons. Currently, six textbooks have been rejected; and as more are re-evaluated, that number will increase in the coming years.

According to the ACSI Legal/Legislative Update article “Should Some Students Be Denied College Entrance Because They Used These Textbooks?” (16:1, Fall 2005, www.cccsmurrieta.com/elementary/pdfs/lawsuitoverview.pdf), “ACSI believes it’s wrong for the state to discriminate against Christians—essentially foreclosing opportunities at state universities—because of unfair religious prejudice by UC personnel, particularly when UC can’t cite any objective evidence that graduates from Christian schools using these textbooks perform any less well in their freshman year of university than graduates from secular schools.”

Many homeschoolers use Bob Jones and A Beka curriculum. If this policy stands, acceptance to the University of California—and likely, in the future, many other colleges and universities—will not be based simply on academic excellence but on academic content with a bias against the Christian worldview. Furthermore, if they won’t accept the credentials of a private school teaching conservative Christian values, how much less likely are they to accept a homeschooled student who has used the same or similar materials?

At issue is the core of every student’s education. Denying university acceptance discourages parents and private educators from teaching their students a thoroughly biblical worldview and makes private or home education less desirable.

State-Mandated Testing

State- or federally mandated standardized testing could also have a negative impact on homeschoolers. Through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law No. 107-110, www.whitehouse.gov/news/reports/no-child-left-behind.html#1), every child in the United States enrolled in public school is required to be tested for adequate yearly progress in core subjects. The core standards were developed by the federal government for accountability in public schools and to ensure that children are ready to compete in the global economy in the twenty-first century. HSLDA has worked with Congress to ensure that homeschooled children are exempt from this requirement. As the HSLDA quotes from the No Child Left Behind Act on its website, “Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect a home school, whether or not a home school is treated as a home school or a private school under State law, nor shall any student schooled at home be required to participate in any assessment referenced in this act. (20 USCA §7886(b), www.hslda.org/courtreport/v19n2/v19n209.asp)

It is tempting to breathe a sigh of relief and say, “We’re safe.” But that would be a false sense of security.

Many states are now using the exam to help determine college entry, award scholarships, and influence employment consideration. Current reforms in Michigan illustrate this trend. In the early 1990s, Michigan developed the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test to set a standard for academic excellence in the state. The exam was said to be a “report card” of each school’s performance and student achievement. The Michigan Merit Award was established in 1999 as an incentive to take the test. The award provides $2,500 for outstanding performance on the exam. Clearly, the state wanted students to participate in the exam. The offer included homeschooled students.

In December of last year, the state legislature replaced the MEAP with the ACT (formerly American College Testing Service) and made the ACT a requirement for graduation beginning in 2007. (Illinois and Colorado have done so as well.) They also revised the exam. Along with testing core academic subjects, the test contains a “job readiness” portion that will help to determine work-related skills and career preparation. The ultimate goal is state-defined career tracking.

Michigan State Senator Michael Switalski defends the adoption of the ACT on his website (www.senate.mi.gov/dem/pr.php?id=387) :

Currently, the MEAP is used by the state as the measurement to meet the annual yearly progress standard established under the No Child Left Behind Act passed by Congress. The ACT legislation would replace the MEAP with the Michigan Merit Exam, a combination of the ACT and Work Keys work readiness skills test. These tests are currently used by colleges and employers to demonstrate proficiency.

Replacing the MEAP with the ACT test would allow results to be obtained more quickly and would save parents the cost of paying for the ACT out of their own pockets.

The MEAP has no bearing on whether a student gets accepted to a college or not. I think the switch would encourage students to take these tests more seriously, ultimately increasing enrollment in Michigan’s colleges and universities.

Because it is now the ACT and mandatory, the students’ state exam will help determine whether they are accepted into a university or directed to another educational opportunity. Those who do not take the test may be considered less desirable. Homeschool parents who do want their children to take the test will need to teach what is on the test, thereby making the test designers their curriculum designers to some degree.

The Michigan Work Keys website further explains its purpose [emphasis added]:
(www.michigan.gov/mdcd/1,1607,7-122–24347–,00.html)

Work Keys has become an integral part of Michigan’s career development system. Using Work Keys …

• Employers can assess workers and customize training for a wide range of skilled jobs,

• Students and workers can document and advance their employability skills, and

• Educators can tailor instructional programs to help students acquire the skills employers need.

If Michigan reforms achieve their goal, students’ performance on the test will influence their employment opportunities, making the need to teach the test’s content and emphases even more urgent for parents and students.

Furthermore, the vision of the ACT, according to their website, is “To be the world’s leading provider of information for educational and career decisions in support of lifelong learning” (www.act.org/aboutact/). The exam is no longer an independent test for college entry. ACT is now working with multiple state governments to test core academic standards and career development. If more and more states adopt the ACT as their state exam, we will effectively move toward a national exam controlled by the government and industry, facilitated by the ACT.

Currently, homeschoolers are not required to take the exam, but that doesn’t mean they will escape the consequences of a national exam or a national curriculum. As the federal government mandates certain standards, colleges and employers will likely begin to use the federal guidelines as the de facto standard as well. The designations or endorsements given (often referred to as Certificate of Initial Mastery, or CIM) will be part of the criteria used to judge a potential student or employee. A university would be less likely to consider a student without the proper designation or endorsement. Or an employer would give more credibility to a job applicant who has a CIM.

Oregon is another state in which the Department of Education is working to implement similar measures. See the sidebar at right for more information.

Homeschoolers would have to take a state or national exam or else possibly forfeit consideration for placement in college or a specific career. Testing becomes the driving force behind curriculum choices. It is doubtful that the Christian worldview will be considered a “core standard.” In order to do well on certain portions of the exam, a child will have to be taught what the state believes is important. But the reason many parents have chosen to homeschool in the first place is precisely because they disagree with the state about what is important. The ultimate result is a loss of liberty by the parent and some state control of curriculum choices.

It will be unfortunate if homeschooling parents lose gains of previous decades through the movement for “educational reform.” Homeschooling parents are educating their own children for the very reason that they desire to shape the education their children receive. It would be sad to see all the previous gains in homeschooling lost because we were willing to give up our liberties for college acceptance or career placement.

Do Something About It

Here are some websites to help you learn more and some ways you can take action.

EdAction—Very informative website on the history of education reform in the United States. Click on “newcomers info” on the sidebar to get started. www.edaction.org

Fair Test—This website has a state-by-state listing of colleges that don’t necessarily require SAT or ACT scores for incoming students. www.fairtest.org

Homeschool Legal Defense Association—Do a keyword search on national testing or No Child Left Behind. www.hslda.org

Association of Christian Schools International—(To follow the court case mentioned in the article.) www.acsi.org/~case

EdWatch—Education for a Free Nation www.edwatch.org/index.html

Karen Braun—spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com

The book Real Choice, Real Freedom by Kerry Morgan is an excellent resource for understanding the rights of parents as ordained by God and the US Constitution.

Get to know your elected officials at all levels of government. They are more accessible than you might think. Find out who their legislative aide is that handles education issues. Then begin to educate them on what you learn. Talk to the education committee chairperson in your state about this issue. Get on their mailing list to stay current about your state.

Inform others. Let others know what you have learned. Take a few minutes at your support group meeting to educate others.

Decide how your family will handle these issues before you are confronted with important decisions about testing requirements and college entry.

Pray. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
—James 5:16

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Karen Braun is engaged in the full-time art of managing her home and home schooling the Braun children. She is known in the homeschooling community as “Spunky” from her popular blog, SpunkyHomeschool. Karen has been a guest speaker on behalf of home schooling issues on local and national radio programs, spoken at local and regional homeschool events, and defended Christian family values on Detroit television news program. She served at the original blogging editor for HomeschoolBlogger.com and The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine where she is still a contributing writer. Karen holds a BS in computer science from the University of Michigan.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

Update from Karen Braun: http://spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2009/06/obamas-education-overhaul.html

God knows that homeschooling can be tough sometimes. Some days are wonderful, and you can see the fruits of your labor. Your child’s handwriting is neat, the answers are correct, and his attitude is cooperative. On those days, you know why you homeschool. We all love those days–reading together as a family, working together on a new skill, and enjoying each other. You can feel God’s hand of blessing upon you so easily, and you are confident that God has called you to homeschool.

But what about the other days? Do you feel as certain when the house is a mess, you’re off schedule, and you can hardly even find the books? Are you still confident when the kids continue to be argumentative, after you feel like you’ve tried all that you know? Or do you start to wonder if you really can teach your own child when he just isn’t reading like you had hoped? What about when you are just physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted? Can you keep homeschooling when you have nothing else to give?

Yes! God will continually affirm His plan for you and your family. Satan will try to attack you with negative thoughts–self criticism, doubt, fears, and discouragement. Learn to recognize when that is happening, cast out those thoughts, and look for God’s affirmations and grace for you. Again and again in the Bible, God uses unlikely people to accomplish His will. If we were capable of doing it all without His help, He wouldn’t get any glory. People would say, “Of course, they can homeschool; they are super-parents!” However, when people see you willing to tough it out and continue on in faith and obedience, they’ll see the God who can work in all circumstances. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, ” . . . My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Think of how God used Moses. When Moses heard God’s voice in a burning bush, and God told him that He was going to use him to bring the Israelites out of bondage, Moses’ first response was, “Why would you choose me?” God tried to put Moses’ mind at ease and reminded him that He would be with him. Later Moses asked, “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me?” God then explained how He would reveal His power to the people. Still Moses was so doubtful that he reminded God that he wasn’t a good speaker. Even that didn’t change God’s mind. God reminded him that He is the Creator and can do anything. In Exodus 4:12, God said, “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”

I believe God says that to all of us. Go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. I’ve often heard it said that God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, just as our children do. God knew all of that when he gave us children and led us to homeschooling. He isn’t surprised when we struggle. He holds out His gentle hands and wants us to bring all of our concerns and worries to him and allow Him to do the work. Philippians 1:6 is one of my favorite verses. It reminds me that God isn’t just sitting back watching to see what we can do. He is the One that is truly doing the work through us. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” He affirms homeschooling. He’ll complete the work; we just need to stay the course.

I believe that God is doing a wonderful work in homeschool families. Society has failed families in many ways. The world has led women to believe their value is in the workplace, rather than in the home. It has led parents to believe that children will be behind if they don’t go to preschool to prepare for public school. Society has led people to think only professional teachers with education degrees are capable of teaching children. Those misconceptions have sent families in all different directions with very little time together. Our time with our children is a precious gift. God’s word emphasizes the importance of quantity time, as well as quality time with our children. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 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.” Notice that God says you shall teach them diligently to your children. It’s not the job of either the government or the Christian school to teach our children His word. God gives that responsibility to parents, and homeschooling is the best opportunity for discipling our children. God affirms homeschooling.

I am so encouraged by talking with other homeschool parents about how their families are growing closer together and towards the Lord. Long before I ever considered homeschooling, a woman talked about how God is continually growing us as we are growing our children. While homeschooling can be very rewarding and enjoyable, it can also be very humbling and demanding at times. Homeschooling pushes us towards God as we pray for guidance about character issues, curriculum choices, and His will. I believe that God can use other homeschool families to encourage us and affirm homeschooling. Many times an encouraging word has been just what I needed to hear to fight off discouragement. It takes time to cultivate friendships, but the encouragement and affirmation that my family and I receive from other homeschool families makes it worth the effort.

Time and time again God affirms His will for us to homeschool through the rich relationships He’s developing among my family. I am so blessed to witness how my boys love and care for each other, their father, and me. When you spend as much time together as we do, you learn to get along. It isn’t always easy, and I know that we all have bad days, but I can’t imagine how different our family would be if we were all apart from each other for 8 hours a day! I was raised pretty much as an only child, and I can remember dreaming of someday having a house full of children. I thought my friends with siblings were so lucky to always have someone to play with and talk to, but they usually thought I was the lucky one! Most of them didn’t really enjoy their time with their siblings and always wanted to get a break from them. While I know everyone needs time alone occasionally, I love watching siblings choose to play and work together.

One of the things that stood out to me, as a young mom attending my first homeschool support group meeting, was how well all the children got along! After teaching in public school for a few years and hearing students complain about younger siblings, it was great when I saw the older kids happily helping with the younger kids while the parents were in the meeting. The parents trusted their children to be responsible and the kids rose to the task. I knew then that I desired for my children to get along well and to have willing hearts that serve happily. God used those other families to affirm homeschooling for me.

Beyond that, you can just look at the statistics. Homeschooling is growing by leaps and bounds. Research is showing how homeschoolers are succeeding on standardized tests, in college, in the workforce, home life, and more. I believe more families are seeing the fruit of homeschooling and are considering it as an option. Even many public and private school educators see the value of homeschooling. They know how hard it is to teach a whole classroom full of students. They know how important it is to have parents involved. Schools are constantly trying to find ways to get more parents involved. They may not want to acknowledge that parents can teach their own children just as well as (or better than!) the public schools, but we don’t really need their affirmation or permission. We have God’s!

When you are going through the tough, crazy times and feel you’re in survival mode, look for God’s affirmation and grace for your homeschool. It’s always there if you just look for it. God loves all of us so much and has a wonderful plan for our families. Trust Him to lead you through the tough times, even when things aren’t the way you hoped. Don’t focus too much on what you aren’t getting done or give in to discouragement. Keep things in perspective. While academics are certainly important, eternity is the most important. God sees the big picture and is in control. His grace can cover all of our mistakes or shortcomings. Ultimately He is actually the one doing the work and has promised to complete it. As your children watch you walk in faith, they will learn to walk in faith as well. Isn’t that yet another wonderful affirmation of homeschooling?

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Nancy Carter, Editor of The Natural Schoolhouse column and The Homeschool Minute E-Newsletter, is a home-steading, homeschooling wife and mother of three sons. Her family enjoys a lifestyle of learning on their farm in Kentucky. Read all about their “Lessons Learned on the Farm” at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/tn3jcarter.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

I’m convinced that “family fun” is the glue stick of the family. Of course, one of the drawbacks of family fun is that it’s not always fun . . . that is, for the mom and dad. Or maybe I should say that the idea of family fun doesn’t always sound fun. In fact, sometimes it sounds inconvenient, messy, or a big pain in the neck.

But here’s the key to family fun success: feel the fear and do it anyway. It’s really just a matter of doing what you know is important whether it sounds fun or not. For example: January is a good time to go roller-skating. Kids like roller-skating, and for a small fee (watch for specials), your family can go roller-skating. So, even if roller skating sounds like torture, you say, “Hey kids, tonight we’re going roller skating as a family.”

Your children will laugh, try to knock you down, challenge you to a race, and want to hold your hand during the “couples skate.” And to top it all off, you’ll all have a great time and your children will remember nights like that forever.

It’s really that simple and it works with
. . . bowling
. . . bike rides
. . . pillow fights
. . . movie nights
. . . swimming parties
. . . tea parties
. . . long games of Monopoly
. . . etc.

All you gotta do is . . . grit your teeth, open your mouth, and say, “Tonight, we’re going to _________.”

Feel the fear and do it anyway!

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Todd Wilson, “The Familyman,” author of Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe, Help! I’m Married to a Homeschooling Mom, and The Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons, is a dad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and gut-honest realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions across the country and a guest on Focus on the Family. Todd and his wife Debbie homeschool their eight children in northern Indiana when they’re not traveling around the country encouraging moms and dads. You can visit Familyman Ministries at www.familymanweb.com.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

Last year, my 6-year-old fell through the cracks of my homeschool. I had it all planned out in my mind so that wouldn’t happen again this school year. I started school early at the end of July, and by September I was still not working with my now 7-year-old. He didn’t seem to care as he played his days away with an occasional math page or phonics lesson thrown in. I kept telling myself that he wasn’t ready to learn to read yet and I was so busy with the other five scholars in the family (one of them being his younger sister, who begged daily for schoolwork). And he was so good at keeping the 2-year-old occupied!

Well, last week he came to me and asked me to read the world atlas book with him as I had promised to do months ago (probably even last year). Looking at his face, I knew that I had done it again and pushed him aside for other things. Sometimes a mother’s heart can break - not with the guilt of what we have done, but with the guilt of what we haven’t done. Needless to say, since last week, we have been having daily times together when I am teaching him to read and reading books to him. I could no longer keep up the good intentions. I had to become intentional with him.

All things that need to be done don’t get done unless we are intentional about them. What are those things you really want to do this year with your kids? What are those things that you say you want to keep as a priority in your homeschool? What about that quiet time with the Lord you wanted to keep having? None of these things will happen unless we are intentionally making them happen. Good intentions mean nothing unless those good intentions become intentional actions. Intentional actions mean nothing if they don’t line up with what God desires for our lives. So, if we know what He desires, we must start walking in those things.

Is your walk with the Lord fading? Intentionally get up and meet with God face to face. You may have to sacrifice some sleep time or break away from the crowd for a while - just like Jesus did when He was on the earth.

Did you stop reading your Bible again? Did you want Bible to be the first subject in your school day? Intentionally gather those kids together and start reading and praying with them today. You may have to make those other “urgent” things wait. Believe me, they’ll still be waiting for you when you’re done.

Did your husband ask you to do something and you haven’t yet? Stop everything and do it. He needs to be respected, and in doing so, you will teach your children to respect you.

Did you promise to do something with one of the kids this year? Intentionally make the arrangements to make it happen. When you put it off and say, “Maybe later,” take it from me–it may not ever happen.

Do you feel like if you add all of these things you’ll faint with utter exhaustion? I have a verse for you: “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not” (Galations 6:9).I know you will reap a harvest of blessing as you do those things in your heart that you know you have been desiring to do.

Continuing to put off the things you really desire is like wandering in a “misty lowland” where your vision is cloudy. It’s truly time to intentionally get on your knees, then rise up to do the tasks God has called you to and created you for.

Let me end with a prayer from A.W. Tozer that echoes my heart:

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” (from The Best of A.W. Tozer)

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Deborah Wuehler is the senior editor for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. She resides in Roseville, California, with her husband Richard. They are the parents of eight children: three teenagers, three elementary, a preschooler and a baby. They have been homeschooling since the birth of their firstborn who is now graduated from high school. Many of her articles can be found on www.Crosswalk.com, and many other homeschooling sites. She is a group leader in her local homeschooling support organization and she loves digging for buried treasure in the Word, reading, writing, homeschooling, and dark chocolate! Email her at senioreditor@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

You are the best teacher your children will ever have because you love them more than anyone else possibly could. Your mandate comes from God, and your “certification” far surpasses what governments or colleges could give. Add a commitment to homeschooling, and you are well on your way to giving your children the best education possible.

But what about skills and knowledge? Although it is helpful to know how to read and write, even these things can be learned, or re-learned, right along with your children. You can teach what you know, and when your knowledge of a subject isn’t quite what you think it should be, you can read aloud and learn together, or your children can learn to teach themselves.

Low Cost

Would it surprise you if I told you that homeschooling can be free or nearly-free? There are options that can keep costs down, if you choose to use them. We spent very little on homeschooling. Each year we have purchased some items, but only because I wanted to, not because we needed them. Spending on curriculum should be done prayerfully, even if you can afford it, because many items are purchased and not used. Books can be resold, but usually for a fraction of what has been paid for them.

The Library

The library can save you a substantial amount of money and offers a cornucopia of books, from non-fiction for science and history to classic literature and biographies, as well as other materials as varied as current events magazines, research volumes, Shakespearean videos and tapes, painting technique videos, homeschooling programs, foreign language tapes, phonics tapes and computer equipment.

Christians are sometimes cautious about the library. But if you read-aloud, you can skip over objectionable parts. Recently I discovered that Charlotte Mason, in her book A Philosophy of Education, also suggested this skipping of anything not appropriate for children. You could even skip the book entirely. If a book that you are reading has an anti-biblical view, such as evolutionary theory, you can discuss what the Bible does say. Children need to know opposing thought to better defend the faith and become independent thinkers.

Another fine resource is the library in your home which you can build by finding high-quality old books at auctions, garage sales, thrift stores, and library sales or right here at the Easy Homeschooling website! We have been collecting for so many years and had such great books here at home that we eventually used our own library more than the public library. I prefer this as it keeps us home and saves us time.

Reading Aloud

The actual schooling process begins with the basics–the skills that your children will need to use almost every day throughout their lives. Professionals’ opinions back up our family’s experiences–reading aloud gives children the best possible start in education.

An emphasis on the written word at all ages (especially important when very young) rather than on visual stimulation will result in bright children. Reading aloud or reading silently will “exercise” your child’s brain as he builds his very own “pictures,” based on the words that are read. When good books are read, those “pictures” will stir up proper judgment, rational thought, and result in wise children with character. Contrariwise, with the visual, the work has been done for them. No need to think; no growth in maturity.

What if your children are not interested in hearing you read aloud, or in reading themselves? In this case, proclaim a fast from videos, TV, and computers. Keep reading, and before long they will develop an appetite for good books.

Starting to Homeschool

If homeschooling is started when children normally start school (5-7), there can be an easing into routines. One subject can be taught at a time, staying with that subject until some measure of achievement is reached. Start with phonics, and then, one at a time, go on to reading, handwriting, creative writing, and, finally, basic math. This simple technique keeps the pressure off, which in turn keeps a love for learning alive. Moreover, there is only a minimum time requirement. If your child is older and you are taking him or her out of institutional schooling, there might be more time required at first. In order to find the time for homeschooling, you may have to make a decision to eliminate unnecessary activities, wasted time.

Teaching Phonics

All school subjects will be built upon the mastery of reading. Today many parents with children in public or private schools find themselves having to re-teach reading. This shouldn’t be, as the school has the child many hours per day to teach this basic of basics. In the schools and in the home, the exclusive use of phonics will result in children who can read well.

There are many tools available for teaching phonics. But most are far too expensive. You can teach phonics for free! Mothers, tutors, and governesses have been teaching this way for hundreds of years. Your tools are a book such as a Bible, and a paper and pencil or a black or white board. With your choice of tool, teach the sounds of the individual letters, starting with the short vowels. Then teach the consonants, and finally the combinations (”sh,” “ch” and so forth). Then after your children know several letter sounds, use a simple playground slide diagram to help them blend the sounds into words. Write the “ch” at the top and the “at” at the bottom. Then tell your child to make the “ch” go down the slide and run into the “at.” Go on to the long vowels. You can also emphasize patterns in groups of words (such as “gate,” “mate,” “grate” and “plate”).

See phonics instructions, the slide diagram, and much more in Easy Homeschooling Techniques. If you want to purchase a phonics course, I suggest Simply Phonics or Alpha-phonics.

As soon as your child knows how to read a few words, he or she needs practice. You can borrow Hop on Pop or similar phonics-based books from the library, or use a simple phonics-based reader. Don’t try to use a Dick and Jane book. These see-say books have too many sight words in them, and will just frustrate your new reader. We used McGuffey’s, which we received as an introductory offer from a book club. You needn’t continue with reading classes until you have completed the books. I am very much against all the unnecessary work for both teacher and student that some “experts” consider to be part of a well-rounded program. Such things as spelling and comprehension do not need to be learned separately. If a child is read to, learns to read phonetically, is read to, starts reading fluently, is read to, and continues to read individually, he or she will learn and learn well all the peripherals of our language.

Writing

Writing goes hand in hand with reading for a winning “language arts” program. Encourage your children to be storytellers. If they can’t yet write, write their stories down for them. If you have a tape recorder, let them record their stories and replay them. Have them draw a picture to go with their story. As soon as they can write, have them write their own stories, but don’t pay any attention to errors at this point. You don’t want to discourage them! If your children want you to spell the words for them, do it. Eventually they will know several words. Then you can point out those that are misspelled for them to learn. (Your student can either write each word ten times or spell them aloud several times to learn them.) Save all your students’ papers, or at least the best ones–they will be treasures someday!

Arithmetic

For arithmetic, make your own flashcards for drill. And for all other subjects, first plan what you want to teach over the school year. Then, using the library or your own library, read-aloud together. Have your children tell back or write on what you have read. We gathered for read-aloud sessions even when our children were perfectly capable of independent study. After all, isn’t being together as a family what homeschooling is all about?

If you have been thinking and praying about homeschooling, or if you have been feeling overwhelmed or financially burdened by what you think you must do–or must buy–to homeschool, I want to encourage you. Homeschooling need not be expensive or difficult. The public schools give us a great example that spending does not equal quality education. A better choice is to use simple, tried and true techniques and reap the fruit of Godly, well-educated children. See more easy tips, including detailed planning how-to’s in Easy Homeschooling Techniques.

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Lorraine Curry is the author of 5 Star Easy Homeschooling books. See more articles, FREE copywork, subscriptions, E-Books, and more at www.easyhomeschooling.com. Also see my book, EasyHomeschooling Techniques

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

Do you “shelter” your children?

That’s a bad word in some circles, we’re finding. Something is creeping into the church (and even the homeschooling community), and it isn’t biblical. It is an “antisheltering campaign” of sorts, and it’s full of holes. Think about it. What does it mean to shelter? Protect. Defend. Guard. Preserve. Watch over. Shield. Safeguard. Hmmmm, so far so good, right? Sure, until “pop psychology” comes in and tells us that we should allow our children to taste a little of the world in order to understand it or pray for it—that we should not “over-shelter” them. Nonsense.

What’s the opposite of shelter? Expose. Endanger. We parents are called to be like our Father in Heaven. He is the greatest “Shelterer” there ever was, and it is we He shelters—or watches over, protecting us, preserving us, shielding us. Praise Him for this! Glory to God who knows how to parent (shelter) us perfectly. May we as parents follow this model—His model. Let’s continue to shelter (love) our children as He loves us. Dismiss the garbage that crawls in; don’t buy it. We’re promised there will be false teachers, liars in the church. I want to keep my eyes focused on Christ, come what may.

Parents: Keep sheltering them. You are bringing them up in the love and admonition of the Lord, not in the latest “homeschool speaker/teacher.” May you be blessed as you continue to walk in obedience! Lord, thank you for sheltering me. Please never stop. “Over-shelter” if You will (if there is such a thing). Fine with me! Overprotect, over-defend, over-guard me; please do! I’ll take it all, Lord. Keep me tight to Your side. I’m safe in that place. There, I can breathe and thrive. It’s where I live.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. —Psalm 61:3

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Gena Suarez and her husband Paul are the owners/publishers of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC. Gena enjoys strong coffee, good books and spending long periods of time in the van with her family. Paul and Gena have five children, ages one and a half to 19, and they hope to have a few more if the Lord allows. Come find her at Facebook, or become a “fan” of TOS Magazine’s Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gray-TN/The-Old-Schoolhouse-Magazine/42107471203. To reach Gena, publisher@thehomeschoolmagazine.com.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.

Many mothers seem to struggle with homeschooling. They obviously have the desire to be a help to their husbands in this area, but as the family grows, they can’t figure out how to “fit it all in.” I hope these tips can help someone (1 Corinthians 14:40).

1. Have time with the Lord.
Lamentations 3:23
Get up at the scheduled time, before the children wake. This is an absolute necessity if you are going to have a successful day. If you examine your “good” days versus your “bad” days, you’ll find that you started your “good” days communicating with the Lord. Honor the Lord first of all, and then put your first load of clothes in the washing machine.

2. Don’t teach your children slothfulness.
Proverbs 19:15
Get the children up at the scheduled time. There is no place for “sleeping in.” There may be a cause for an “hour delay” due to an unforeseen late night the night before. This should be the exception and not the rule. The earlier you start school, the earlier you finish.

3. Reward good behavior.
Psalm 18:20
Offer incentives for chores done promptly. We use a sticker system. Twenty-five stickers earn a tool for the boys. The girls combine theirs for a DVD that Dad and Mom approve of.

4. Approach school time with purpose.
Isaiah 46:11b
Start school with prayer and Bible, and work on school only at the scheduled time. Use a family-friendly curriculum. Many subjects can be taught together. Older children should be disciplined enough to do their schoolwork alone, with occasional help. When older children have a schedule to go by for chores and schoolwork, they shouldn’t have to interrupt Mom while she is teaching and helping the little ones. Don’t answer the phone during school time. Invest in an answering machine if you do not have one.

5. Bring order through discipline.
Proverbs 13:24
Keep the schooling environment orderly. Limit the activity of little ones during school time. For example, don’t allow drinks except at break time. If there are two or three floors, everyone should stay on the same floor (a gate is helpful). Children should know their boundaries. Yes, little ones like to be with Mom. They can play with blocks at your feet or sit on your lap and play quietly while you teach.

6. Finish what you start.
Acts 20:24
On your scheduled break, you can have chore inspection and catch-up time.

A. Unfinished chores can be completed at the loss of break time.
B. When nursing a baby, schedule breaks at nursing time, or nurse the baby before school and after school.
C. Many nursing babies can take a nap during school time.
D. Provide a snack.
E. Start back up on time.

7. Don’t let household tasks interfere.
Luke 16:1
Housecleaning, cooking, folding laundry, yard work, supper preparation, and other household projects should all take place before and after school time. Many of the housekeeping tasks should be delegated to responsible children. Take time while children are young to teach housekeeping tasks one-on-one so that they can do these chores well as they become older.

8. Use school time only for school tasks.
Don’t try to work in the kitchen or get laundry in during school time, and don’t schedule appointments during school time. School time should only be school time. Dentists, doctors, and orthodontists want your business, and they will work with you. Our dentist will schedule our whole family in one afternoon if needed, and we have a family of ten! If you leave your place during school time, you can’t expect others to stay where they should be. Have children do their instrument practice as part of their individual schedules before or after school time, not during it.

9. Enjoy your family.
Psalm 128:2
When schoolwork is caught up and chores are all finished, set aside one night a week to watch a video or DVD.

10. Reverence your husband.
Ephesians 5:33b
Work at putting your husband first. The children need to know he is number one in your life. Have a time each day just to converse with him alone, with no interruptions. If your husband works at home or works irregular hours, do not schedule his time. He must oversee all that you schedule, because he will have to answer to God for how he has taught and trained his children to walk in the right paths.

Many moms don’t want to be so rigid. Balance is essential in a homeschooling family, and as a whole, our weakness is not being scheduled enough. Our family, friends, and neighbors often watch us, criticize us, and laugh at us because of our lack of commitment to the very task we preach about.

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Beverly Whalen is the wife of David Whalen. They live with their eight children in the country near Enon Valley. Their oldest child, Jeremiah, is 20 and mentally disabled. Their oldest daughter, Susanna, is 18 and teaches a variety of stringed instruments. Twins Naomi and h are 15. They enjoy piano, violin, and harp. Jared and Nathan are 13, also twins. Uriah is 10, and Levi is 6. The boys are taking beginning music lessons and enjoy the Haflinger horses on the family farm. The family sings and plays together as a ministry in their church and likeminded churches. They have been homeschooling for 16 years.

This article published on Creation.com. For more homeschool articles, visit http://creation.com/homeschool-corner.