Ten Things You Should Know Before You Start to Homeschool

Having homeschooled now for the past 16 years, I have learned a lot about the realities of schooling a houseful of kids at home.  Some wise person once said that in doing anything worthwhile, begin with the end in mind.  Our family’s priorities have shifted over the past years from impressing doubtful family members to impressing God.  ‘But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5

With that in mind, here is some tried and true advice from a ‘veteren’ homeschool mom of many:

1. Power of Prayer

This may seem obvious, but for me {an educated, confident ‘doer’} I have tended in the past to seek God for the ‘big’ stuff but barrel along in my own strength and wisdom for the day-to-day things. In my younger days, I patterned my life after others who appeared to be ‘doing it’ ‘right’. For example, it seemed to me that most home schoolers took piano lessons. Wanting to do the right thing, I dutifully signed our kids up for piano. Let’s just say that dyslexia + reading two staffs at once = burnout, frustration and a distaste for music that was never my intention to provide. Had I sought the Lord on our kids’ musical instruction, I may have avoided many tears and troubles.

2. Power of the Word

Again, this may seem obvious, but with busy schedules and lists of must do’s abounding, time in the Word can become less of a priority. Remember that we are beginning with then end in mind. ‘But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5 and “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the word of God.” Romans 10:17   Memorize, study and remind your kids how much God loves them – daily!

3. Define real learning

Homeschooling is more than simply academics. We have an opportunity to provide unique learning opportunities that encourage our kids to follow their unique interests. You do not need to recreate the schoolroom to be ‘successful’. Endeavor to foster a lifetime learning mentality by teaching your kids how to learn, giving them time to explore their interests, and helping them find opportunities to experience real life.

4. Learning Styles

This is a term I had never heard of before homeschooling. Understanding the way your children learn, remember things, process information and concentrate will go a long way in creating that love of learning and an environment of learning in your home. I don’t know how kids acquire their style of learning but I do know that, in our house, all the kids are different from me! It has been a long road of trying to find a style of learning that works for all of us – both student and teacher.

5. Anticipating the Teen Years

Don’t let this period of exponential change and growth in your child catch you unaware. First of all, it comes earlier than you think. Changes in the way your children think about themselves and the world around them can begin as early as 10 years old, although the physical changes may not begin for another year or two. Understanding the mind of your teen will go a long way to helping you to help them successfully navigate these years.  See resources below.

6. Understanding World Views

It is never too early to begin equipping your kids to understand a Christian worldview. Once they are old enough to understand the nature of God and simple truths of the Bible, you can help them to apply these truths to movies, books, music and other aspects of culture. It is a great idea to undertake a more serious study of worldviews when your kids are older such as Summit Ministries’Understanding the Times. Teaching our growing kids how to be discerning of modern culture is critical if we are going to expect them to take ownership of their entertainment choices.

7. Teach Apologetics

Christian ‘apologetics’ refers to the defense of the Christian faith. The Greek word apologia refers to a reasoned defense that would be given in a court of law. Christian apologetics is the reasoned defense of the Christian faith against objections and also being fluent in what the Bible teaches. In Ken Ham’s book, Already Gone, he details research that shows that our kids aren’t denying their faith in college – they are leaving the faith as early as middle school. Christianity is a reasoned faith. We need to equip our kids to know why they believe what they believe and be able to defend that belief to others.

8. Stop comparing

It is tempting {and natural} to think that everyone else’s home schools are running efficiently and smoothly every day. It is easy to believe that other families have no discipline problems with their kids {or themselves!}, no learning issues, no family problems. This simply is not so. There is always something. Each year there will be some distraction from your ideal school day. Expect it. Embrace it. It is God’s plan for your life and for providing that ‘real’ education for your children. In the past few years, we have had new babies, deaths and sickness in our family. Our kids have learned to be much more self-sufficient and thoughtful than they would have without these ‘distractions’.

9. And no, your house will never stay clean

As long as there are young kids in the house all day long – there will be messes. The definition of mess in a large family has a completely different meaning than those with fewer kids. Our family can undo 4 hours of our cleaning lady’s efforts in a few days. Our daily messes make our house look like we haven’t cleaned in weeks. Oh the crumbs! Oh the toys, books and socks! Set up one {or more} times each day that you know that the house will be picked up {delegate} and let go.  Enjoy your children’s childhood sense of wonder.  There will be plenty of time to enjoy a clean house when they are grown.

10. Find something for you mom

Don’t lose you. There is a reason that this is number 10 on my list. There is a tendency for that selfishness to creep in and the what-about-me attitude to rear it’s greedy head in our lives. I’m not talking about scheduling more ‘me’ time, although there is a time and a place for that. I’m talking about keeping your finger on the pulse of you. What gives you enjoyment and satisfaction? Do you love to read, cook, run, draw, write, play guitar? Don’t ignore your creative talents. Being able to have something that you ‘do’ {preferably without great cost or need to be away from home} that you can work at and improve at that will bring enjoyment and satisfaction to your soul can go a long way in keeping your life balanced. That is what blogging has become for me.

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