New Year For Homeschool Moms to Find Balance

It is a new year and new opportunity for Homeschool Moms to find balance . These tips can help you.

Some families handle day-to-day life by creating detailed charts or schedules for each family member. They know what time breakfast is, how long to plan for each homeschool subject, what time they’ll eat lunch every day, how much free time they have, and when they’ll eat dinner.

Not everyone can live that way. Some of us like to live life by the seat of our pants. We don’t plan elaborate schedules but prefer to take life as it comes. Sometimes we may keep a calendar so they know about important appointments or events, but that’s as close as they get to a schedule. For us, living life one day at a time is about experiencing life as it happens rather than depending upon a piece of paper to dictate when they do things.

Does this mean that one method of balancing daily life is better than the other? Of course not! Part of the benefit of homeschooling is learning what works best for your own family. This may take time and some trial and error, but you will soon find yourself falling into a routine of sorts that is best for you.

Create an area in your home where you have access to good books and music. Having good resources around gives your child someplace to turn when they want to learn something. And the benefit is if they are interested on their own, they’re learning without realizing it. This method is often referred to as delight-driven or “unschooling.” It enables children to learn what interests them and allows Mom to be able to concentrate on taking care of the home rather than sitting with the child while they learn. Of course, even homeschooling moms know it’s important to be available when their child needs help, but they don’t feel obligated to remain right there with them.

Use real life events to help your child learn. If you’re cooking dinner, have your homeschooled child help you determine how much milk is needed if the recipe calls for one-third cup of something but you’re tripling the recipe. When you plan a trip to the grocery store, have your child write out the list of items needed. Then, while you’re walking through the store, have them help you determine which box potatoes is cheaper based on the cost and number of ounces are in the box. Both of these activities teach your child how math is important for daily life.

Get your children to help you with household duties. They can learn how to cook, sort clothing, do laundry, and stack dishes in a dishwasher. Not only will they be learning skills which will be helpful for their future, it will also make your job easier; you can also count the time they’re learning those skills as home economics – whether they’re boys or girls.

There are many things to can do to balance your daily life as a homeschool mom. Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself. Let your husband work with your children on some of the subjects you feel uncomfortable teaching. Have your children help you with household duties. After some time you will be able to find what works best for your family so your life is more or less balanced.

Wonderful Family Devotional

I recently assigned a wonderful book to my kids to read for homeschool. I was so excited to receive this book as a review copy from Bethany House Publishers, especially since it was already on my homeschool reading list. Hero Tales by Dave and Neta Jackson, the authors of Trailblazer Books, is part church history, part devotional, and part character study. This book can be used with various age groups and double as a family devotional. The book is geared for children aged six to twelve, however, with guidance you can engage a younger child. An older child could benefit by using this as an outline for further in depth study into one or more of the featured Christians in the book. However, the text would be too simple for a child above the age of 12 to read on his own. If you have have a vast array of age groups this book is best used as a family devotional.

Hero Tales, compiles the lives of Christian heroes from William Tyndale to Harriet Tubman to Dwight L. Moody. The stories are inspirational and teach valuable character traits which glorify God. Each hero is presented by a brief biography and followed by three true stories each focusing on a particular character trait. At the end of each true story there is a verse linking the trait Biblically and three study and discussion questions.

For example the book includes Martin Luther as one of the heroes featured. Martin Luther’s life is briefly outlined for background. Following the short biography, the child will focus on vision, courage and joy in each of the stories on Martin Luther.

These heroes will inspire and teach Godly character. Along the way, your child will begin to learn an overview of church history. You can read this book daily or you can take the time to focus on each hero or a character trait you want to instill in your child. I am using this book with my 11, 9, and 4 year old. I will be assigning my 11 year old to choose a person from the book to write a biography. My 9 year old will focus on writing a few short paragraphs on a character trait that he can begin to implement in his life. My 4 year old, will begin to memorize short verses on the character traits studied. As a family, we will use the questions to open up lines of communication and instill values.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to bring church history, devotional time, and character study to their elementary aged children.

*Book provided by Bethany House Publishers.

Copyright © Richele McFarlin, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Tuesday’s Mommy Tip: Clean Lines

Do you have a great tip for Moms? They can be about anything (family friendly, of course) that pertains to a Mom’s life, including; beauty, kitchen, health, parenting, and so much more! Click Here to find out how YOU can join Moms of Faith’s Tuesday’s Mommy Tips!

NOTE: PLEASE read the rules. We have a few who are not posting to the ACTUAL TIP post on their blog. I need you to post your link to the actual TIP POST…NOT the main page of your site. THANK YOU!!

OK, on to this week’s Mommy tip…

Clean Lines

I have been doing a lot of cleaning and rearranging over the past few weeks to prepare for the new homeschool year, and get some much needed deep cleaning done. As I have been doing all of this, I am also redesigning the way everything looks, and I have discovered that clean lines look best and give the appearance of neatness and organization. One example of “clean lines,” is how you align books on your book shelf.

Instead of pushing them back, or trying to line them up from the biggest to the smallest and have this tiny little section at the bottom, follow these two steps…

1. Arrange Books by Categories. Put all your reference books in one section in size order. Then, maybe your readers or literature section next to that, again in size order. How you order them is your business. Obviously if you do not homeschool, you will have different categories!

The books will fluctuate up and down since they are set up by category, however, they are in order of subject, which will make it easier to find.

2. Pull them up to the edge. All your books should be lined up to the edge of the shelf for a clean and organized look. It will also save you on dusting!

I hope this helps you get ready for the new school year, homeschool Moms…It is also a great tip for anyone with books! LOL!

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Homeschool Corner: Year Round Schooling

When we first started homeschooling, it was mid school year and we just followed the same schedule as the school district. But, as the year progressed, I felt this leading to start our 2nd school year in the summer. So, I counted back the days, accommodating for holidays and vacations and we started school in June, rather than August. We went to school four days a week, taking Fridays off. We tried this for two years and at the end of the school year last year, I felt like I needed a break, since we had not been able to take a Spring Break because we took off some extra days here and there and did not want to fall behind in our studies. So, we took the entire summer off from school and started back when the public school children did.

It was very nice having the summer off, but what I found was that the children did indeed lose some of what they had learned over the summer. Just from not using it as they had during the school year, some of that information had made an exodus from their minds. The other drawback for us was that if we needed to take a day off for illness or something unexpected, it put us behind. Then I would constantly feel like I needed to double up lessons or squeeze more into each day we had. It was very stressful.

So, for this school year, we are giving the year-round schedule another try. We just completed our first two weeks of our new school year and so far so good! The main benefit of this schedule is that it is much more flexible than the five-day schedule. If we need to miss a day of school during the week, that Friday is there as a buffer, so we don’t fall behind in our studies. Plus, if we want to arrange a play-date, field trip, or even a fun day at the park, Fridays are the day to do it. We don’t feel like we have to miss out on something because we have too much work to do. That feeling is not only stressful to me, but it can also be stressful to the children.

If you have never tried year-round schooling in your homeschooling family, I have some advice that helps me stay organized and keep on track. First, I plan out my schedule out in advance. I like to plan the whole year out, so I am prepared, but maybe doing it quarterly or even monthly works better for you. You have to do what you are most comfortable with. Our school year is 45 weeks long (accounting for Christmas, Spring Break, a couple weeks in the summer, and Vacations). I also like to plan out my lessons for the whole year as a pacing guide, but again, that might not work for you, but it is the way I keep on track.

Now, the way I explained this schedule to my children was this: “We have school 4 days a week, but if you have not finished all of your work, then you will have to finish it on Friday.” I give my older kids a weekly schedule with their assignments on it. By doing it this way, they all know what is expected of them and they are allowed to at their own pace. For example, for next week, they have 4 math lessons. If they want to work ahead and be done with Math early, they can. Once they have completed what is necessary for the week, they are done for the week. That way they can have more time for reading (they have not been reading enough lately… lol) and playing and being with friends. Plus, more time for the kids and I to have some fun playing together.

To review, since I may have babbled on a bit

Year Round Homeschooling Tips

1. Plan ahead – have your schedule and lesson plans written out in advance
2. Be flexible – if you need an extra week off for vacation – take it – and pick back up on your schedule/lessons when you return
3. Let the kids know they can have Fridays off if they do what they need to each day (or have extra time to play if they want to work a ahead a little in one subject or two) - Plus, Mom needs that time off too, even if it is just to get caught up on grading papers… lol.
4. Breathe easier – year-round schooling can take some stress away

So, if you have never tried year-round homeschooling, I want you to know that you can do it. It is not as scary or mean as it sounds. Your children, if they are like mine, will even look forward to it. Once I had all their new school books and folders and everything set out on my shelf, my kiddos were asking: “When are we going to start?” They could not wait. Now that we have started, we are keeping the days light, with lots of review to build their confidence. By the time the end of the week sneaks up on us, we are done our work and have a day off to relax enjoy our time together.

Copyright © Alicia Tucker, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

About the Author: Alicia Tucker is a homeschool mom of 3 children, after having worked in public schools in NJ and SC for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Sociology, as well as a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Technology. Alicia is also Moms of Faith lead prayer warrior and columnist.

Tuesday’s Mommy Tip – Quiet Game

Do you have a great tip for Moms? They can be about anything (family friendly, of course) that pertains to a Mom’s life, including; beauty, kitchen, health, parenting, and so much more! Click Here to find out how YOU can join Moms of Faith’s Tuesday’s Mommy Tips!

NOTE: PLEASE read the rules. We have a few who are not posting to the ACTUAL TIP post on their blog. I need you to post your link to the actual TIP POST…NOT the main page of your site. THANK YOU!!

OK, on to this week’s Mommy tip…

Quiet Game

The quiet game is a MUST for every Mother. LOL! It is simple and can be “played” by toddlers AND teenagers! Of course the little ones take a couple times to understand that there is something in it for them if they win! How do you play? I am so glad that you asked… LOL! Simple. The person who can be quiet the longest wins the game! And you give them an age appropriate prize. Let me tell you, you will only get like 5 minutes top in the beginning…BUT…after a few times of seeing the other win a prize, you kids will WANT to play the quiet game and you will be looking at like 15-30 min of silence. Pure heaven! When do you play?? When you are about to lose your mind from the noise announce “Quiet Game Time!” Let me know how it goes…LOL.

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Teaching kids to crochet and/or knit

Looking for a craft to teach your children? A craft which will teach them focus, goal setting and accomplishment as well as design planning and follow through? Sounds like a tall order, right? Nope, the answer is as simple as teaching them to crochet or knit.

It is not only a great way to bond with your children, you are teaching them a life long skill that they will use time and time again.

Crocheting

Crocheting is a great place to start, particularly for younger children, because it uses a single needle. Children as young as four can be taught to crochet.

Required crochet supplies include:

• Size J hook
• Favorite color worsted weight yarn
• Beginner pattern

Hooks come in a variety of materials from metal to plastic. Lighter weight hooks are often easier for small hands to use effectively. It’s easier to teach a child to crochet if you’re sitting side by side so a couch is ideal, just make sure the television is off or they won’t be paying attention. It is important to note whether your child is left handed or right handed as the pattern directions will vary.

Beginner patterns are usually blankets or placemats. Remember to start small, be prepared for frustration in the beginning and set a mental time limit or create a goal – for example, let’s start with a 4X4 square so they feel like they’ve accomplished something when they finish.

Before beginning any project it’s important to master a few knots, practice them, and make your yarn skein into a yarn ball.

Knitting

Like crochet, knitting is a great way to teach children focus, give them a sense of accomplishment, and is a great way for children to keep busy as an alternative to a television, computer or video game.

Knitting supplies:

• Size ten knitting needles
• Yarn, preferably wool
• A knitting pattern or project

Easy knitting patterns include a scarf, a potholder, or a hat. Begin like crocheting with your child sitting next to you somewhere comfortable. Sometimes it helps to have your child sitting in your lap so they can emulate your hand motions.

Like crochet needles it helps small hands if the needles are larger and if they are lightweight. Additionally, choose needles which have rounded tips rather than sharp pointed tips.

Patience is required when teaching knitting or crocheting. Knots can be difficult for small hands to master. If you become frustrated they will too. Knitting and crocheting are a fantastic way to bond with your child and to teach them the joy of crafting, the joy of creating something with their own two hands.

If your children are reluctant to learn, you could encourage them and let them know that it is not that hard AND they can make great gifts for friends and family…Grandma would LOVE it too I am sure!

Copyright © Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

Math Fact Drills: Five Minutes a Day for a Change in Attitude

We made some curriculum changes for this homeschool year. One of the major changes was in the area of Math. The curricula that we chose for all of our children this year recommended the use of math drills each day.

At first I was hesitant to want to do this. In the past when I was a young student teacher, the sixth graders that I worked with were made to do math drills each day as part of their math lessons. At my young age, still learning about life, I failed to see the importance that the daily math drills played. All I saw of them was a way to force children to work at a rushed pace and try to get everything correct while working as quickly as they could.

So, when I saw that the curricula we wanted to use this year suggested math drills, I felt very unsure of whether we should use them or not. However, I did not immediately dismiss them altogether, but I did pray about it and talk it over with my husband. We decided to try using the math drills and see what happens.

We use the math drill sheets once per day as part of our “warm-up” time. We have a time at the beginning of our home school day that we do some lessons and activities to try to help the children to be able to ease into their school day. The things we do during this time of day are Bible devotions, memory verse, grammar review, and math drill. We decided to have the children do the math drill as part of warm ups and not part of their math lessons for a reason. We did not want them to feel like their math lesson was overly long and if they did the math drill at the start of their math lesson each day, they might have felt overwhelmed. Keeping the drills separate from the lesson has seemed to work well with my children.

I have learned something important from allowing my children this time for math drills. Last year, all of my children struggled with their basic facts. Each time they saw a math fact to be solved, it felt like a chore to them because they would have to use the manipulatives, or draw a picture, or even use their fingers. My oldest especially struggled with this, because math was her least-liked subject. So, any time they had to do computation in math, they had a negative attitude about it.

We have been using the math drills for 10 weeks of school this year. In those 10 weeks, I have seen all of my children, even my oldest, not only develop a positive change in attitude towards their math, but they also have more confidence in their abilities in math.

Additionally, they have learned many of their facts by heart, so that they do not have to take the time to count with fingers or manipulatives or draw a picture in order to get to their answer. Even my six year old has about one-third of her basic addition facts memorized.

I am not sure how I missed this when I was a young student teacher, but it seems I did. I am very thankful that I did give math drills a second chance this homeschool year, though. These drills, which take less than five minutes a day, have allowed my children to know more of their facts by heart, but more importantly, have more confidence about themselves as they complete their assignments in math. This confidence that they are acquiring is so vital to their success in their studies. Rather than them saying, “This is too hard. Why do I have to do this?” in regards to their math drills, they are now saying, “Watch this, Mommy. I can do this. Time me to see how fast I can go.” Although speed is not what I am trying to teach them, the confidence that they now have is helping them to know that they CAN do this and they are more willing to learn new things. This willingness to learn can and will open many doors to them, not only in their schooling, but in their futures as well.

Copyright © Alicia Tucker, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

About the Author: Alicia Tucker is a homeschool mom of 3 children, after having worked in public schools in NJ and SC for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Sociology, as well as a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Technology. Alicia is also Moms of Faith prayer warrior and columnist.

How Can I Homeschool My Preschooler?

I hear this question quite a bit from homeschool moms and others. Even Moms who are planning on sending their little ones to school some day, are still wondering what they can do to prepare their children for kindergarten. It is a fact that small children do learn from play, but the “play” that you allow them to do can vary. Some parents opt for “free play” in which their children just play with whichever of their toys they desire. Some parents are looking for something a little more structured. What I propose is a mixture between these two extremes.

The first thing you need to do to “homeschool” your preschooler is to gather some items that you can use to store all of the materials you want to use with your child. I suggest several small plastic totes, with snap-on lids be your first purchase. The clear ones are the best, as you can easily see which totes hold which items. Then, start gathering some materials to use.

Here is a list of items you may want to gather (PS: Most are low cost or free!!!) to Homeschool your preschooler:

• Coloring Books (or free coloring sheets from the Internet)
• Markers, Crayons, Colored Pencils, Watercolor Paints, and Paintbrushes
• Scissors Glue or Glue Sticks
• Yarn or shoelaces
• A Variety of Beads (plastic or foam) or Macaroni
• Flash Cards (store bought or home-made – letters of the alphabet, numbers 0-10, colors, shapes, names of family members and pets – make sure there are pictures on them if possible)
• Paper (Copy paper, Construction Paper, blank newspaper print, etc…)
• Things to count (beads, beans, unifix cubes, buttons, blocks, etc…)
• Stapler and staples Gardening materials (seeds, soil, and cups)
• Lots of books to read together
• Materials for making musical instruments (beads, bells, elastic, bathroom tissue cardboard rolls, wax paper, rubber bands, paper plates, etc…)

Okay, so now you have all your materials gathered and sorted into the plastic containers. Now, here is what you do next.

Put the boxes somewhere where your child can see them, but cannot get into them all on her own. When she sees them, she is probably going to be REALLY interested. So, take a box down and sit down with your preschooler. Let your child choose something out of the box (this is where the “free play” comes in). Rather than saying, “we are going to color” or “we are going to lace beads today,” which is often not effective with a preschooler, you let the child choose the activity and then you guide him or her.

For example, if your child chooses the shoelace and wants to play with it, let him explore it first. He may want to tie it in a knot, or wrap it around his finger – let him do it for a minute or so. Then, pull out the beads and say, “I wonder what we could do with that shoelace and these beads.” Then let your child explore the beads for a little while. If he figures out how to lace them onto the shoelace, wonderful!!! But, if not, then you take your own shoelace from the box and start beading one. If he is interested in it, let him go to town (well for as long as his attention span allows him to). Then, when he is done doing that, help him put those things away and see what he would like to do next. Let your preschooler take the lead on this and you will learn what he likes and does not like, what he can do and cannot do.

By doing these things with your children, you are getting to know them as thinkers and learners, rather than just kids. Then, you may think of some other things that you might want to do with your child, so add them to the box and allow him to “discover” all the fun things mommy has in her boxes. It will be lots of fun for both of you and you both will enjoy the time together!

To help you get started, here are some additional ideas of activities that you can do with your boxes of supplies and your preschooler. This list is by no means complete. It is meant just to get you and your child started on having fun learning together. As I mentioned earlier, if an idea hits you or you see something online that looks like fun to do with your preschooler, add it to the box. Soon, you both will be having a blast!!!! So, now it is time to get started, gather those materials, surprise your little one with them, and have a great time together. Before you know it, your child will be surprising you with all the new things he or she has learned. Have fun!!! I know you will, because learning is fun – and the best part is teaching your child all these new things, while he doesn’t even know he is learning. Learn to play with your child and play to learn!

Starter ideas for homeschooling your preschooler:

Coloring: Coloring is great for practicing color identification and honing fine motor skills.

Tracing: Draw straight, squiggly and zigzag lines on a piece of paper and have your youngster trace them. It helps to develop those motor skills necessary for handwriting.

Cutting: Take the tracing paper from above and have them cut out their lines. This is great practice.

Bead or Macaroni Lacing: Lacing activities are fun and help with fine motor muscle development. You can use foam beads, hard beads, colored macaroni, buttons, etc… and a shoelace or piece or yarn (with covered ends) for this. Children can practice patterning as well.

Flash Cards: There are tons of flash card sets out there, many of which can be found at dollar stores (or, you can make them at home). Even if small children cannot use them as directed on the package, they are useful for picture identification or matching games.

Rainbow Writing: Choose a letter to work with for the day. Write the letter on a piece of paper and have them trace the letter several times, using a different color each time. This is extra fun when they practice writing their names. This is great for older children to practice new spelling words, too! You can even add pictures of things that begin with that letter each day for extra cutting and gluing practice.

Letter Identification: Choose a letter of the day. After you name things that begin with that letter, teach your child the sound (or sounds) the letter makes. Then, use a newspaper or sales flyer and have your child circle the letter of the day every time they see it.

1-1 Correspondence, Sorting, & Graphing: Use plastic chips, beans, jelly beans, gummy bears, or whatever you can find. Lay them out on the table, napkin, or placemat. Start with small numbers, less than 10 and work your way up. Have your child count the items, then sort them. After sorting, have your child tell you how each group is the same. Then, count them again. After sorting, you could even glue them on a piece of paper and make a picture graph. When they are ready, you could teach them addition and subtraction in this way as well.

Letter Books: Letter books are easy and fun to make! Just choose one letter and inside the book have pictures with the words that go with them related to the letter. (For example: On the cover, write the letter Aa; on the next page, write Aa is for apple and have a picture of an apple – make as many or as few pages as you like for each letter). When small kids read these books, they feel like they are reading for real. A real self-esteem booster!

Gardening: Planting seeds and watching them grow and change is a great way to introduce little ones to Science. They love helping. Plus, while they are helping, they are learning what plants need to grow!

Mazes: Some small children love these! By completing mazes, they are actually learning the skills they need to eventually start writing their letters and numbers. Plus it helps them understand beginning and end and problem solve when they get to a line they cannot cross. Fun and educational!!!

Reading: Little ones love being read to. Take time to snuggle and read to your child every day if you can. Also, older children may like to read to their younger siblings, too. Good practice for the older ones, while the little ones are watching, listening and learning from the example of the older child.

Rhythm: Make small instruments, like: an elastic circle with bells tied to it, bathroom tissue paper tubes with macaroni sealed inside, paper plate tambourines. Then, play some fun kids’ music and let your kids practice playing their instruments and dancing to the beat. This is fun for older children as well as younger ones.

Copyright © Alicia Tucker, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

About the Author: Alicia Tucker is a prayer warrior for Moms of Faith forums and a columnist for Moms of Faith as well. She is also a home school mom of 3 children, after having worked in public schools in NJ and SC for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Sociology, as well as a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Technology.

Scheduling an Exciting Day

What is the hardest part of my homeschooling day? Keeping my children engaged and excited and fighting the boredom that tends to creep in. I know that part of our problem is that they LOVE video games and anything that is not as flashy as a game has the chance of losing their interest rapidly. However, I am not willing to ban video games entirely from my house either, as it seems that I like them as well… lol!

So, the best thing I have learned to do, is to mix up the subjects and activities a little bit. Rather than doing one book work subject after another or all of their Switched-on-Schoolhouse (from Alpha Omega Publishers) in one big time slot together, I try to stir it up a little. The other reason I do it this way, is so that I can spend the time with my first grader that is required to teach her lessons, without neglecting the older children. Also, I try to add in a taste of some other subjects and activities in our day to even more boredom-fighting.

To address this, our homeschool schedule looks something like this:

• Read Aloud Time (We spend about 15 minutes per day with this. It is a chapter book that the kids choose – right now it is …ahem… “Captain Underpants”… lol. However, they love them and we can laugh together as they settle in after breakfast and get ready for their school day.)
• Opening Prayer (The children take turns leading the prayer.)
• Math Game/Drill Time (Since Math Drill is required in each of their Math curricula, but it can make the math lesson feel longer, I split it up and complete drill here. Sometimes, we play a math game instead.)
• Journal (I like for my children to write in a journal each day. Rather than make it part of Language Arts, we do it here.)
• Rotation Time
  - My older children work on these subjects in this order: History & Geography S.O.S. (Switched on Schoolhouse); Language Arts; Science S.O.S.; Math
  - My youngest child works on her subjects in this order: Language Arts; History & Geography; Math, Science; Computer Enrichment
• Lunch and Recess (Helps them get rid of excess energy and wigglies. As an added bonus, when we walk the dogs during this time, it helps the dogs to settle down also, so they do not cause so many schooling disruptions.)
• Bible Lesson
• Memory Verse
• Spanish
• Music (We usually sing a hymn from the hymnal and them we sing and dance to children’s praise music.)
• Attention Game (I found this wonderful book I will share at a later time. It has a ton of games for children of all ages that helps build their focus abilities, so they can concentrate better to the tasks at hand and the things around them.)
• Book Basket (Free reading time where the children choose books they would like to read or look at. The older ones often read to the younger ones.)

I know it looks a little jumbled at first glance. However, my “educator rationale” behind this is that by switching the types of activities and switching them often, the child’s mind does not have the time or chance to develop boredom. It is kind of like when you need to drive a car with a standard transmission, or as some call it, a stick shift. When you are in town and driving in traffic, you have a lot of stop and go and shifting to do.

Because of that you are more alert to what is going on around you and you are staying busy in the car. However, when you are driving in fifth gear on the interstate or highway, your mind has the tendency to drift off as the highway markers pass you by. By alternating the more interesting things with the book work and the computer activities and the active things, we have the opportunity to keep our minds busy doing different things throughout the day – changing gears. However, when there is too much bookwork to be done all at one time, my children often begin to complain or even whine, laying their heads on the table and essentially giving up on the lesson occasionally – or in other words, falling asleep behind the wheel.

So, my advice is to you….

If your schedule is working for you and your children, DO NOT change a thing. However, if your kids seem to be complaining a lot and it looks like they are giving up on their work and it feels like a battle just to get through one or two subjects (let alone making it through the entire day), it might be time to “change the gears” and mix up your studies a little.

Copyright © Alicia Tucker, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved

About the Author: Alicia Tucker is a homeschool mom of 3 children, after having worked in public schools in NJ and SC for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Sociology, as well as a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Technology. Alicia is also Moms of Faith prayer warrior and columnist.

What Is Homeschooling and How Do I Know If It’s Right For My Family?

Do you know what these famous people have in common?

• Alexander Graham Bell
• George Patton
• Albert Einstein
• Benjamin Franklin
• Winston Churchill
• Agatha Christie
• George Bernard Shaw
• Will Rogers

If you guessed that they were all homeschoolers, you’d be correct. This is a very short list of famous and successful people who were educated at home. If you would like to expand this list, do a search on the Internet for famous homeschoolers. There are many websites that list these people and some provide detailed biographies. There is even a book called, aptly, Famous Homeschoolers, by Nancy and Malcolm Plant.

www.fun-books.com/specials.htm

The point here is to get into the mindset that people can be educated and become successful adults without attending public school. And because I can almost hear what you are thinking, no, it is not necessary to have a high school diploma to go to college.

So what is homeschooling?

In the broadest sense, homeschooling is educating your children at home. You, as parent, become teacher. Parents homeschool for more reasons than you can imagine. Some want to avoid having their children exposed to violence and peer pressure. Some home school so that they can make sure their children’s education adheres to their religious beliefs. Some live a different lifestyle, perhaps they travel a lot, and want their children’s schooling to be flexible enough to fit around that life style. And some, like me, simply enjoy being with their children. They don’t want the public school to interrupt and weaken the parent/child bond that they have been working hard to create for the first five years of their child’s life.

Just as there are many reasons to homeschool, there are many methods of homeschooling. All the way from un-schooling (learning by doing, learning from life, not using textbook type materials), to school at home (using textbooks at desks set up in a schoolroom at home) and everything in between. It’s very easy to find hundreds of homeschool Websites by using a search engine, but just to get you started, try: Jon’s Homeschool Resource Page www.midnightbeach.com/hs/

When I decided to write this article, I thought hard about what I could offer that wasn’t being displayed on thousands of Websites on the Internet. I realized that the only thing I have to offer anyone interested in homeschooling is my experience. So, everything in the article below comes from my fifteen years of experience homeschooling my four youngest children. I hope it is of some use to you.

Deciding to homeschool your child may be one of the most important decisions you ever make as a parent, and it will take a lot of thought and soul searching. To the newcomer, it may seem impossible, overwhelming and very, very lonely. But like most huge obstacles, once it’s broken down into smaller pieces, it becomes manageable. We’ll take it one step at a time, in small enough chunks to get a hold of. So, if you’re game, roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work figuring out if homeschooling is for you and your child.

First things first. Organization is the key. Get a three-ring binder (homeschooling parent’s LOVE three-ring binders) and put a label on the front. (If you’ve made the transition to digital record keeping, you can just start a folder on the computer. But it’s not as much fun.) Label it something serious, like My Homeschooling Plans or Homeschooling Thoughts. Put some paper in the binder, find a really comfortable ink pen, and sit down somewhere quiet.

Ready? Good. Now, let’s get started.

What are your reasons for considering homeschooling? Even if you haven’t actually made the decision to homeschool, the fact that you are here reading this article says you are curious. Perhaps you honestly don’t know the answer yet, and that’s ok. The remainder of this article is going to try to help you start to find those answers.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but each state has it’s own set of laws that must be followed. Compulsory (how I hate that word) education here in Washington State starts at the age of 8. Even though I had been homeschooling him from birth, to stay legal once my son reached 8-years old, I was required to become certified. That meant I either had to have two years of college education, or take a certification class. I met this requirement by taking an independent correspondence class, during which I was asked to put on paper my goals, philosophies and reasons for wanting to homeschool. I’d like to help you do the same right now.

Start a page–either the tree kind or a file on the computer and title it, My Educational Beliefs. List what personal beliefs you have about education, especially the education of your own children. Get as detailed as you can here–the value is in the thinking process behind the list. Take your time, I’m in no hurry.

As an example to get you started, I’m going to share with you what I wrote on my list nine years ago.

My Educational Beliefs

1. I believe my child’s attitude about learning should be:

• One of continual curiosity and seeking of knowledge.

2. I believe my child’s learning should lead towards a lifestyle that is:

• Rural
• physically active
• creative

3. I believe these basic values should be part of my child’s learning:

• respect for others
• Loyalty to family and friends
• Honesty
• Generosity

4. I believe children learn best:

• Through hands-on learning experience
• reading
• workbooks

5. I believe a teacher should:

• Provide side-by-side assistance and direction
• interact with the child
• provide the structure within which the child may explore, experiment, study and achieve.
• Provide a good example of excitement in learning.

6. Other beliefs:

• I believe my child should grow up to be self-reliant and occupationally secure in a field of high interest to them.

Now, that wasn’t too bad, was it? Don’t give up on this until you have at least something written down, but don’t agonize over it either. You can come back to it later if need be. Next, start a paper or file titled, Life Goals For My Child.

I want you to write down what kind of person you envision your child being as an adult. What are your hopes and dreams for him/her? What educational gifts do you hope to be able to help them find that will serve them their entire lives?

I’ll share mine from 9 years ago, just to get you started.

Life Goals for My Child

• Be literate.
• Be self-reliant.
• Compete well in their chosen field of occupation.
• Appreciate art, music, and literature.
• Be creative.
• Be inventive and resourceful.
• Be healthy, mentally and physically.
• Co-operate with others.
• Maintain a strong sense of self-worth.
• Maintain a life-long curiosity, seeking knowledge as a way of life.
• Look to the future with a sense of excitement and adventure.

For the last exercise, start a third paper titled: Why We (I) Am Going To Homeschool Our (My) Child? (Yes, single parents can successfully homeschool their children.) You may not have all the answers for this one yet either, but just get something down. All of these ideas and beliefs can start getting mixed in with other people’s opinions once we start educating ourselves in depth about homeschooling, and you’ll be glad you have these lists tucked away.

Okay, here’s my old list:

Why We Are Going To Homeschool Our Children

Our family consists of myself, my husband, a 21-year-old daughter, a 19-year-old daughter, an 8-year-old son, a 7-year-old daughter, a 4-½ year old daughter, and an unborn son due in 6 months. My two oldest daughters (from my first marriage) were in the public school system for the whole of their educational years. It is largely a dissatisfaction with the public schools and all it’s attendant problems (academic, social, and moral) that has caused us to make the decision to homeschool our youngest children. We decided, even before our 8-year-old son (the oldest of the younger set) was born, that somehow we would find an alternative to the public schools.

We want to homeschool for some additional reasons. We want added closeness with our children. We want more independence, greater control over our family’s moral and philosophical values, and better awareness of our children’s interests.

We dislike the thought of any government agency–no matter how well meaning–directing the raising of our children.

We intend to homeschool because we do not want our children’s academic, social, and moral education taken out of our hands.

We believe these areas of a child’s education are a parent’s responsibility, right, and pleasure.

I’d like you to spend some time going over these lists until you feel they accurately reflect your feelings about homeschooling your children. When I did these exercises, I had only a vague idea about why I wanted to homeschool and what kind of education I wanted to help my children acquire. These simple exercises helped me to solidify my ideas and provided the basis for our future homeschooling methods. I hope they help you to do the same. Keep these lists in a safe place and add to them as you explore the possibility of homeschooling your child.

About the author: Anita York has homeschooled her four children for 15 years. She is a contracted Senior Editor, Editor, Copyeditor and Manuscript Screener for three publishers. Her book “You CAN Homeschool Your Child” is available at: http://www.L7S.net/Item.php?ID=YC000

Next Page »