Back to Homeschool, Part 2: A Newbie’s Perspective

Initially, homeschool was just an idea.  It was not something that I had strong convictions for or against. However, when my first child was supposed to head to kindergarten I could feel my heels dig in the ground.  She is a sensitive soul; one that thrives in small, nurturing environments.  All too often I would hear a defeated message from her, “I can’t do it!” I knew that the message she believed needed to be re-written.  Two years ago I took the plunge to begin our homeschooling journey.  There are times that it is incredibly rewarding and I can’t imagine doing anything else, but there are also times that I find myself playing the defeated message, “I can’t do it!”  It is a learning and growing experience for us all as a family.  I don’t claim to have a ton of strategy or a complete picture of homeschooling made easy, but here are a few things that I recommend.

1.  Ask

Every year…about every child. My philosophy is to take it a year at a time and to not assume that what is right for one child, may also be right for another.

Why do we homeschool? When the school bus drives by and you see all the kids head off to school or when all your friends are meeting for lunch kid-free or when your kids are complaining about school work and it just doesn’t seem to be working, you will want to remember why you homeschool. The ‘why’smay change year to year but it’s important to identify and remember why you are making the sacrifice and investment to homeschool. In Sarah Mae’s new planner for the Type-B Mom, she actually encourages moms to come up with a mission statement for homeschooling. This is a great exercise to not only answer the question of ‘why’ but to also cast vision and purpose for your homeschooling journey.

What do we want to learn?  I want my children to love learning, and the easiest way to learn is to be interested. I asked my kids what they wanted to learn about? Their answers were rather insightful. They wanted to learn about everything from how shoes are made and how TV shows are made, to why we trust God? It was great to get a peek into what interested them, and it helped me identify some direction for unit studies. Ironically, several of the questions were a bit theological, so I’m kind of wishing I had gone to seminary.

2.  Plan

Choose curriculum. This can be a hard one for homeschooling moms. We are always on the hunt for the best. Always trying to assess strengths/weaknesses. Do your research, go with what will seem to work, and just remember you can always change.

Character/Discipleship Opportunities. Beyond learning facts and how to critically think, I want my kids to become disciples of Christ. I understand that ultimately this is a decision they each will make on their own, however I know I want to give them a Biblical worldview that shows them Christ in all things. From responsibility/chore charts to character traits and Bible stories, it is an important element to incorporate in your home, whether you homeschool or not.

Extracurricular Activities.  Lack of socialization is one of the critiques of homeschooling.  However, I find that if I’m not careful I can have my kids involved in too much. The schedule of homeschooling affords us more flexibility during the day to incorporate extracurricular activities. Whether it’s a cooking class, gymnastics class, or history club, our schedule can stay pretty full. Ironically, I find myself having to scale it down and protect our down time, so it’s important to me to see at a week’s glance what we are committing to as a family.

Field Trips. One of the beautiful things about homeschooling is the ability to go on more field trips. It is a highlight for us to get out as a family to explore and learn in the real world. More often than not field trips take some planning. Get together with a co-op or other homeschooling moms and plan some outings together.

Seasonal Activities. Every season I have a list of ideal activities that I would like to do to make it feel like that season. What would fall look like without a trip to the pumpkin patch or Christmas without filling Operation Christmas Child boxes?! By making a list, it will be easier to feel like you are taking charge of the seasonal bustle and not letting the craziness take you over.

 

3.  Prepare

Buy Supplies. Even homeschoolers need glue, pencils, etc. A good planner is a must-have for homeschooling preparation.  You can make your own {which can be time consuming} or you can get a great one that has been tested and refined. If you are super detail oriented and are wanting a lot of structure, then the Well Planned Day is the most popular.But if you are like me and like a little more flexibility then I highly recommend Sarah Mae’s new Type- B Homeschool planner.  

Not only is it a great planner, but it helps you prepare for your homeschooling year with a 14 day guide. She includes resources, quotes, and encouragement. It is way more than just a fancy calendar. It’s like sitting down with a good friend and having her walk you through everything you need to do to get started for homeschooling. You can tell she has put her heart into creating something that works.

 Organize. I wish I could say that I’ve been great at this, but to be honest, for some reason I just haven’t made it a priority.  This past year though I realized that my lack of organization is a bit of a hindrance. I’m trying to figure out what I need to bring a sense of order to our homeschooling space. I am hoping that it will bring more peace and less searching in our days.

Find support. I am blessed with a tutorial and several friends that homeschool. Their support, encouragement, and advice are incredibly helpful. I honestly don’t know that I would have the courage to venture out of traditional education without the support of friends, family, and the homeschooling community. Reach out. It always helps to know that you aren’t alone on the journey.

4. Begin

This year we started a tradition to kick off the new school year with a Back to School Breakfast for Dinner. This year’s theme…Remember our ABC’s.

Assume the Best…in yourself and in others.  I’m hoping that this will encourage a bit of positivity in our home. I wrapped a piece of cloth in the middle of each of their glasses. We talked about the difference in seeing the glass half empty {negative} and half full {positive}. Then we discussed the difference in believing the best about yourself…I can do it vs. I can’t. Sometimes my kids are quick to make judgements about each other and others. This motto is an easy way to remind them to assume they are loved, assume they can do their best, assume that others are doing their best as well. A little grace I guess.

Be Brave…This was a year of a lot of firsts for our family. Savy is going into the first grade, Caleb is headed to elementary school for the first time {kindergarten}, and Daniel is headed to preschool for the first time. I gave them each a little Ty stuffed animal, so whenever they are feeling nervous or defeated to let it be a reminder to them to be brave.

Care for others…Beyond arithmetic and language arts, I really want my children to learn to care for others. Last week, we had the privilege of helping Amazima prepare handmade necklaces to be sold. I gave them each a keychain of handmade beads as a reminder to always consider others and find ways to show compassion.

5. Pray, Pray, Pray

You won’t be perfect at it, and you will need lots of strength, patience, wisdom, and grace on your homeschooling journey.  It’s hard. Advice is good sometimes, but ultimately we need to be hearing from the Lord. Ultimately we need to be relying on His Spirit and strength to guide our paths.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Sarah Mae is graciously giving away a digital copy of her Type-B Homeschool Planner to two lucky winners at Grace for Moms. Enter via Rafflecopter below!

Are you a homeschooling mama?  How can I be praying for you ?  What do you find to be most helpful when preparing for a homeschooling year?

Want more encouragement? Read part one in our Back to Homeschool Mini-Series >> Sage Advice from a 13 Year Home Educator
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