Tag: homeschooltips

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NEWSFLASH: I’m homeschooling. I’m not perfect.

I'm homeschooling. I'm not perfect. text on red background. mom sleep: like regular sleep but without the sleep

Newsflash: I’m homeschooling. I’m not perfect.

Fortunately, my children were already well aware of this. I didn’t have to burst their bubble, so to speak. My husband was supportive of the homeschooling so he greatly contributed to its success.

But my own mindset needed some adjusting.

  • I had my own ideas of how the days should go.
  • Of how the house should look.
  • Of appropriate lunches and snacks.
  • Of playdates and extra outings.
  • Of time for myself to recharge, read my Bible or even nap!

Continue reading “NEWSFLASH: I’m homeschooling. I’m not perfect.”

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Homeschooling Isn’t A Safe Decision

Homeschooling Isn’t A Safe Decision.

It isn’t safe to decide to homeschool.
You will get a lot of unasked for advice.
Criticism.
Doubt.
But if the Lord is leading you to homeschool,
GO FOR IT!

You are Safe to Homeschool with the Lord!

If the Lord is leading you
and your spouse is supportive,
if you are determined to do what it takes for your child’s success,
then
you can successfully homeschool your child.

Homeschooling isn’t a safe decision, but it may be the best decision for your family.

It is easier to keep your child where they are for education and then complain about it. Homeschooling isn’t a safe decision, but it allows you to make the educational choices your children need.
Many of the moms in my co-op over the 24 years chose homeschooling because their children had special needs. They were determined to help their children maximize their potential- whatever that looked like.
If you have a special needs child, I highly recommend the book Special Education: A Biblical Approach edited by Joe P. Sutton.  One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “The knowledge that every one of us has everything he needs to do the will of God for his life is truly the hidden treasure.” p.30.
It is easier to talk about what is going wrong in the school and culture than it is to decide to do something about it. Homeschooling isn’t a safe decision, but it allows you time to address cultural issues with your children from a biblical perspective.
It is easier to put other things ahead of your child’s education. Homeschooling isn’t a safe decision as it will require sacrifices of you and your family.
Rant: Frankly, I am tired of parents whining that they don’t have any free time to do what they want. Parenting is not about free time. There is no EASY button for parenting and it is not about you for the 18 plus or minus years that you have to influence your children. Take responsibility for the children you have brought into the world and do your best to raise them for the Lord.
Be careful! Those sacrifices, that additional time teaching truth to your children,  and those conversations are going to lead to something you will never expect.
You are going to enjoy homeschooling WAY MORE than you think you will, meet some incredible people, and raise some incredible people!
Please join my FB group Homeschool Christian Mom for homeschool support and <bonus> artprojects!
https://homeschoolchristianmom.com/homeschooling-basics-getting-started/

There are very good boxed all-in-one curriculums out there. I used and recommend BJU Press Homeschool curriculum for all my kids K thru 12. You can do parent led where you teach or purchase the DVD’s or get the same material through the computer. For any of those ways, there are recommendations for grading or they do it for you.

I love the BJU curriculum because they have thought of everything. Subjects are well put together, they list tons of extra resources if you need it and all the prep work is done. On day one, you teach lesson one, etc. So the value of that kind of complete curriculum was worth every penny to me.This post contains affiliate links.  Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.

If you are purchasing the curriculum for your children, I have some reviews of materials on Youtube Homeschool Christian Mom. I teach a lesson during my review and give you an idea of how a lesson or subject works.

There is no perfect curriculum! The public school teachers use what they have and make it work. You can do the same thing- use the best curriculum you can get.

My own philosophy is to buy a good, all-inclusive curriculum and use it. If it doesn’t quite fit your child or his needs, it is much easier and less expensive to modify a good curriculum than to buy and buy and buy trying to find the perfect books. I do recommend using a complete program such at BJU Press Homeschool, whether parent-led, on-line, or on DVD’s.  For me, it made homeschooling through high school not only doable but wildly successful.

It is a great blessing that there are such good curriculums available: as parent-led (you teach the material using the teacher’s book and your child has the student text), DVD’s (you watch the lessons and use the student books to do the work) or Distance Learning On-line programs (Daily video lessons are delivered to your child by expert teachers. Lessons, eTextbooks, and assignments can be accessed from the web.)

Here are some curriculum reviews to help you:

Review of Footsteps for Fours: BJU Press Homeschool

6th Grade Spelling, BJU Press

Biblical Worldview textbook

Art Porthole Project and Art Text Review

Even if you go with a different company, BJU Press Homeschool curriculum is recognized as one of the best Christian curriculums in the world and a look at these books will help you evaluate any other curriculums.

I am more than glad to help you as well. Please join me on Facebook group Homeschool Christian Mom and get the assistance you need to be a successful teacher and  parent, no matter what reasons you have for beginning your homeschooling now.

Join me! Homeschool Christian Mom FREE Facebook group with tips on grading, scheduling and more!

Homeschool Christian Mom Facebook page: We discuss the ins and outs of our homeschooling days and offer great ideas to help each other succeed.

Youtube: Homeschool Christian Mom These videos discuss homeschool scheduling, working with your Littles, thinking long term, and many other topics.

Let’s connect:

Join me! Homeschool Christian Mom FREE Facebook group with tips on grading, scheduling and more!

Let’s connect:

Join me! Homeschool Christian Mom FREE Facebook group with tips on grading, scheduling and more!

Youtube: Homeschool Christian Mom These videos discuss homeschool scheduling, working with your Littles, thinking long term, and many other topics.

For additional home schooling support, work with me!

Alexa skills: Subscribe to Homeschool Christian Mom News

Twitter   @hmschchristnmom

Instagram

Do you need some extra homeschooling help? Use this link to get on my calendar and let’s chat! Move from being a hesitant homeschool mom to a happy homeschool family.

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Homeschooling and the Difference Between College and Kindergarten

This image shows a young student working matching the correct word to a picture with an inset of an older student studying chemistry

What’s the Difference Between College and Kindergarten?

  • Type of Learner.
  • Level of dependence.
  • Maturity.

Your last formal education may have been college: however,  remember that in kindergarten, your students are new learners.

Besides the monetary aspect, to the tune of $40,000 or more, the learning is different! (See more about college tuitions below.)
In college, the students are mature learners.
In college, a student is responsible to know the material in the assigned reading, the extra reading, and the lecture material. He is expected to be a mature learner.

In college, the students are independent learners.

Most college students have already had 12 or 13 years of formal education and are ready to take responsibility for their learning. Most college students know how to study and learn new material.

Warning: If you are teaching a young student, be careful not to expect a college student’s learning ability and level of responsibility.

Your kindergartener may have been read to for hundreds of hours, played with and taken places. However, most kindergarteners have never been asked before to identify a letter with a sound, been required to make that sound and then be asked to identify that sound at the beginning or end of a word. This example is one of many totally new concepts.

In kindergarten, the student is a dependent learner.

The under 6 crowd will “catch on” to the best of their ability but their brain is still developing. I had one teacher tell me that she didn’t expect any of her students to read until they their teeth started to wiggle! 
And then just when you think your young charges are starting to understand, their body will go through a growth spurt and they may regress. That’s normal.
Many curriculum use a spiral teaching method: A subject is introduced, and then re-introduced and then talked about again throughout the year. This spiral learning teaching style  (Bruner, 1960)  is based on the premise that a student learns more about a subject each time the topic is restudied.
YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT YOUR KINDERGARTEN STUDENT TO MASTER INFORMATION THE FIRST TIME AROUND. Oh, my! Did I shout that? Sorry.
Little by little.
Inch by inch.
Some children catch on very quickly to reading or math. Unfortunately it is usually your annoying neighbor’s child, but be that as it may, that is NOT the norm for kindergarten. A good song for kindergarten learning (and our Christian walk) is Little by little, inch by inch. . .  
The maturity you are expecting will come but it will come in increments over the next 13 years. Be patient.
I do recommend finding a good homeschooling co-op or group. These groups provide friendships and encouragement to the children and parents.
God Helps When We Ask: Kindergarten through College!

Remember James 1:5, ESV: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Asking God for wisdom is evidence that we trust Him. (Bibleref.com)

How do we get wisdom? We ask. Every day.

Homeschooling Kindergarten Tips:
  • Pray aloud for yourself and your students before beginning class each day.
  • Plan to have fun learning with your child.
  • Plan a bathroom break before school starts.
  • Halfway through the morning, plan for a snack.
  • Plan a rest time after lunch called Quiet Reading Time.
  • Plan 2 exercise times to get those large muscle groups working.
  • Plan a creative project after lunch.
  • If your school day isn’t going well, it’s okay to take a break and try again in 15 minutes.
  • Have enrichment activities or worksheets ready if needed for an emergency day plan.
  • Have a plastic tub for storing schoolwork and artwork.
  • Take photos often. You’ll thank me later for this one.
What’s the difference between college and kindergarten?    TIME.
12 years of learning! So enjoy the early dependent years and set the stage for success and independent learning later. Happy Homeschooling!
Some additional thoughts about kindergarten readiness:

From the Conversation: When to worry

According to the developmental milestones, parents should seek advice from a professional if their three- to five-year-old child:

  • is not understood by others
  • has speech fluency problems or stammering
  • is not playing with other children
  • is not able to have a conversation
  • is not able to go to the toilet or wash him/herself.
Bonus:
At least there are some things you won’t have to worry about!
Fortunately for the homeschooled crowd, you won’t have to worry about your child being embarrassed to get permission for bathroom breaks and having an accident, too much stimulation in a crowded cafeteria so that forget to eat, fatigue from a long day without the possibility for a nap or very limited outdoor and exercise time. In homeschooling, you get to control the schedule and it should work to fit your family. Click here for more scheduling ideas.

 

If you liked this article you may also like:

How to Teach Sharing: Everyone Wants the Monkey

Parenting Your Strong-Willed Child: The Importance of the Walk

Homeschool Mission Statement: Is It Necessary?

Christian Homeschool Mindset Help from 2 Veteran Homeschoolers

Homeschool Christian Mom Elizabeth Estelle is ready to help you!

Let’s connect:

Join me! Homeschool Christian Mom FREE Facebook group with tips on grading, scheduling and more!

Youtube: Homeschool Christian Mom These videos discuss homeschool scheduling, working with your Littles, thinking long term, and many other topics.

For additional home schooling support, work with me!

Alexa skills: Subscribe to Homeschool Christian Mom News

Twitter   @hmschchristnmom

Instagram

Do you need some extra homeschooling help? Use this link to get on my calendar and let’s chat! Move from being a hesitant homeschool mom to a happy homeschool family.

*About college tuitions: Vermont has the highest tuition and fees of $43,748 and North Dakota has the lowest tuition & fees of $12,678 over 50 U.S. States and territories for the academic year 2021-2022. Click here for more information on college costs by state.