Learning Environment

Homeschooling for Eternity

Homeschooling for Eternity by Skeet Savage encourages us to become intentional as homeschoolers.

“This book has not been written by or about the perfect homeschooling family. Rather, it contains the simple testimony and practical advice of a veteran homeschooling single mother who successfully raised six children as she invested her life in full-time service to the Lord while trusting Him to provide for their needs and hold their family together against enormous odds. It was written for those who would like to homeschool but think they can’t, “because…” It was written for those who have homeschooled for several (even many) years, yet have somehow lost their vision and focus – maybe even having become so discouraged that they have completely forgotten why they ever thought they wanted to homeschool their children in the first place!”

5 Ways to Get More Out of Your Homeschool Experience

In a slump? Feeling overloaded? Has homeschooling become a burden? Here are some ideas that may encourage you and help you get more out of your homeschool experience. To sum up…keep it simple.

Become a Tutor

Today’s educational system has a focus on optimization – getting the most widgets through the process. It isn’t surprising then that frequently the system becomes the point of the exercise, that a grade will declare one educated irrespective of what one knows, or what skills one has developed or, unfortunately, failed to develop. This focus on the system carries with it a lack of respect for the individual. What if a student needs that extra time to master a concept before moving on? What if another student has already mastered the concept in question and is being held back while waiting for others to catch up. We need a method that allows one-on-one time and attention for each child. That is certainly something mothers are accustomed to providing.

7 Ways to Identify Real Learning

One thing that keeps homeschool moms from breaking out of the traditional system of doing things is a lack of confidence that their children will actually learn something. We hope that the promises offered by a traditional structure provided from the outside – whether from the books, the schedule or state requirements – will produce the desired result. It takes considerable faith to believe that doing the same thing that has repeatedly failed to produce results will somehow end in a more fruitful result this time.

Look around you. Watch what your children are doing. Learn along side them. Journal and keep track of what you see. Is real learning taking place? Here are a few identifying characteristics to look for.

Setting the Pace

If my pace is too slow, I will be long in reaching my goal and receive fewer benefits.

If my pace is too fast, I may burn out before I reach my goal.

The Goal of Education?

Education has become hard to define. Everyone seems to have different expectations. Some want to see high test scores. Others want their children to be able to get a job. Others expect their children to be appropriately socially engineered.

Before we take on the task of homeschooling, we need to determine our expectations. And there is no greater issue to address than what it means to be properly “educated.”

The Family

What makes a home? Relationships! Relationships with each other – fulfilling our duties to one another – and our relationship with Christ. These things truly make a home.