Homeschool?
It's more than academics
How to homeschool? We ask this question because we know all about school - most of us have done school but as we step into homeschooling we have this sense that this might be different. Philosophy of Education
Try the Discipleship Way
Scope and Sequence - the Discipleship Way
Stand on the Word
Have a Vision and a Plan
Starting Out
For us our philosophy, what we believe about education and why, has evolved over the years. As we learn more: - our understanding or definition of education has become clear
- our definition of success has been formed. Read What is Success?
- and our perception how to learn has also changed.
You may not have the privilege of researching a lot of how to's before you start - that is okay. Grow and learn with your children. Become a family that learn together. When we began our journey our goal was, and still is, to impart into our children the things that are important to us. To be a major influence in our children’s lives. This is why we homeschool.
I believe that homeschooling is the opportunity
to have our children home,
to influence them,
to guide them and mould them.
A common thread in homeschooling families, regardless of philosophy or methods chosen, is our desire to see our children love learning. Our method, on the one hand may be seen as eclectic, but we have an overriding direction that pulls it all together. We see this approach as the Discipleship ApproachWhen I look at how to home school our children, I focus on these Guiding Principles. It is tempting to use educational institution guidelines and outcomes to help guide us. And though I find them to be helpful at times, it is these principles that work in our family every day. These are our We are very intentional about our direction and our assessment of how we are going. But without the structures of traditional education I can find myself floundering at times. This Working Definition of Discipleship that helps me asses how we are going in realistic terms.Homeschooling the Discipleship Approach doesn’t mean you don’t have a plan. To the contrary – you plan what you want to impart into every area of your child’s life. Read more about Planning your Discipleship We are told to Train up a child, Prov 22:6. Believing that God has made each child with a unique plan helps us to know which way to train them. This is taken into consideration with our Discipleship Method.For all the most important things
in education we have an inside track,
since we reckon with the whole person,
including heart and soul.
– Ruth Beechick,
A Biblical Psychology of Learning (1982)
When we started our homeschool journey we searched for a sequence of knowledge and skills to be taught but as we delve further into Discipling our children this becomes less of a priority though we continue to be intentional with the direction we take our children. Wisdom is a word that constantly reappears in our thinking. I have searched for a simple definition for Wisdom and have come up with: Practical applications of Knowing Jesus This is the ultimate goal for any activity or study we pursue. After reading I Saw the Angel in the Marble we created our own scope and sequence that is consistent with both Discipling our children, pursuing wisdom, as well as a lifestyle of learning.
Since Peter and I have been married we have had to look into the Scriptures and look into our hearts to define many areas of our life, and in many cases, redefine definitions that we grew up with. One such area has been education. The Word of God is a living thing and the Holy Spirit will quicken verses to you and to me – different verses. I share our Homeschool Bible Verses for your encouragement and to help you see where we are coming from.
It must be highlighted that we initially plan for our Family, not for our home school. This is an important distinction, whether you are homeschooling or not, God has given you the responsibility for your family and you need to know what is important to your family; what are your family values, what are your family goals and how are you going to achieve them. So often we set goals for financial freedom and expected family vacations but this type of planning goes much deeper.Where there is no vision, the people perish:
but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Prov 29:18
- What do you want your life to be characterized by?
- What do you want your children’s hearts to look like?
In order to carry out this responsibility properly we need to have a plan; we need to know what is important to instruct our children. Without this we will grab hold of the latest, most exciting, most promising deals out there. Read
Discover your own Family Vision
As you start out I encourage you to give yourself a season of learning - Discover what God has for you and your family
- Discover your philosophy of education
- Become familiar with family orientated methods of learning
- Read good books for yourself and to your children and see your own life being stimulated by fresh ideas (wisdom)
If we are going to step outside the traditional model of education and live life with our kids – to disciple and mentor them – we need to know what this means.Articles to help you start out with a lifestyle of learning, a discipleship approach
My Top Tips for Starting HomeschoolingRelational Based Activities will help you as you ease into this new lifestyle.Choosing Curriculum You need to do this, but please don't rush into it.
Advice to New Homeschoolers
is an article by Shirley who is a home school mum to five children as well as a home school curriculum author. You can find her at www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com
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