4-H has been a very good activity for our family. We’ve been in a homeschool group for 6-7 years. There are so many great opportunities through 4-H. I always ‘make’ the kids participate in the Public Speaking competition. Now they enjoy it! ;o) Even though Olivia has graduated she can still participate until she is 19. :o)

As I stated earlier this week there are endless resources for homeschoolers to choose from and even if you do not homeschool you may want to supliment with some solid materials.

Before I get into my recommendations I want to make clear that each family, just as each child is different! One family can and usually will have children with different learning styles. I have one who soaks up everything she reads, the other three were/are hands on…which is how the majority learn. So what works for one of your children may not work for another one.  Parents will differ on what they believe is important to their child's education.

I said all of that to say, take time to research learning styles and curriculum choices. Do NOT spend a lot of money on books when you are first starting out. I cannot begin to tell you how many books we've bought and ended us hating and not using. Talk with as many parents as you can about what they use and why. Remember you do not want a government style education in your home. You want your children to embrace learning.

The internet is FULL of resources, even free resources! 

Attend a homeschool conference if possible. Here is a FANTASIC online homeschool conference that you can listen to speakers at HOME when you have time. I honestly believe that this conference will give you a good idea of what direction is best for your family… AND there are TONS of free giveaways and special offers, all for less than what you would pay to go to a live event.

If possible do unit studies and read together, even several grade levels at once. The younger ones will glean from the older ones.

Creation Science- Answers in Genesis - This is our favorite!

Math- Abeka for the younger grades (you don't have to do all the questions on each page!)

Phonics- Abeka 

Reading- Choose real books the kids are interested in. 

History- Greenleaf Press, Use the reading list from Charlotte Mason, Vision Forum  or Veritas Press 

Science- BJU is good, but if at all possible do unit studies! Make it interesting and fun.  

 Here is a great site that you can get something FREE each day of the week!

The above resource is my Frugal Friday Tip! You can hop on over to Crystal's site for for Frugal ideas! 

Make sure you include REAL LIFE in your planning. Teach practical skills that they will need every day as adults.

I have just scratched the surface here.

 Don't forget my interview tomorrow with my guest that gave up her High School teaching career to be a stay home mom and teach her own children. She is going to share with us her approach that makes learning enjoyable. She will actually share things I wish I had known 15 years ago when we first started homeschooling! She ha a wealth of wisdom to share. Don't miss it!

Learning at Home 

 Part 1 Stepping Out of the Box

 Part  2 The Confusion of Socialization

 Part 3  Qualified?

Part 4 Lifelong Learners 

…. 

To expand on yesterday’s post about what makes me qualified to teach my kids we have to understand why a government education is not what is best. PLEASE keep in mind that I am NOT bashing the government’s school teachers, not at all, because I believe they begin teaching because of the love of teaching, but at the same time their hands are tied by what the government system expects from them.

EVERY public school teacher I have ever talked to in person has told me how much they hate the No Child Left Behind and Outcome Based Education policies. These programs teach to the test. It is very important that every student do well on the test so the school district can keep their good grade and keep their government funding. These programs do not allow each student to be their very best, these systems are designed to process a cookie cutter student.

Is teaching to the test really teaching children how to learn?

Do we want to teach our children to simply fill in the blanks on a paper, to accept everything they are taught as truth…as the only right answer? Is our goal as parents to make sure they make good grades and earn scholarships? Or is it to teach them to be lifelong learners and to acknowledge God is everything?!

Please don’t think I am discrediting making good grades, because I’m not, I’m just saying THAT should not be our goal.

When I was in high school I had a teacher that told us often that there was no use in memorizing facts and figures as long as we knew where to find the answers. I use to think he was just a lazy teacher ( which he was because we had very few instructional days and A LOT of goof-off days), but I do think he was right to a degree. It is more important that we know how and where to find the answers.

I want my children to be lifelong learners. I don’t want them to have the attitude of ‘getting done with school’.

How we live this out:

When they ask questions help them find the answers. The other night we had a good discussion while driving home about the fog we were in. Our youngest brought up the subject which evolved into other topics. If you don’t have the answer look it up WITH them. With the use of the internet there is NO EXCUSE for not learning anything.

Use what they are interested in as a springboard for their research/spelling/writing assignments. This is especially important for younger students because you want to develop a love for learning.

Don’t expect perfection. This is a really tough one for us moms. We think our child’s academic success is solely a reflection on us. Yes, we do play a key role, but in the end it depends on the student, their ability (not everyone will be a math wiz or spelling bee champ), their bends/talents, and their self discipline to learn.

• Travel whenever possible. Travel is such a great way to learn, and it doesn’t have to be out of the country or for weeks at a time. Day or weekend trips are good. When we travel we always try to do an educational stop somewhere or at least look up historical places and people that we will be passing by. This is a perfect time for map skills, time management, geography, history, etc…

• Let your children in on everything as soon as possible. As soon as they can read and do basic math let them help with shopping, budgeting, coupon clipping, menu planning and cooking. This is a HUGE area that ALL adults need to know. Let them be by your side for everything! Most of what is learned in the books will be forgotten unless it is used in a practical way.

• Remember you have 15-18 years to teach them (depending when you start). They do not have to master subject verb agreement the first year it is taught.

• Limit TV, video games and ipods. Evaluate how many hours a day are being used for mindless, idle entertainment compared to learning new skills, interacting with humans ;o), and SERVING OTHERS!

• Use other moms and co-ops to teach what you cannot. We have been part of co-op classes several times over the years. Some moms or dads have passions for subjects that can be shared with groups. We have been part of the following co-ops and classes at different times over our 15 years of homeschooling: Science Co-Op, Political Science Co-Op, US Geography Co-Op, African Missions Co-Op, Art Class, Spanish Class, Public Speaking Class, History Class, not to mention the dozens and dozens of field trips with other home schoolers. These are all classes or co-ops that were taught/organized by homeschool families.

KEEP YOURSELF IN CHECK:

• Are you humbling yourself before the Lord for guidance and dependence?

• Are creating a government classroom in your home or are you fostering a love for learning? Let them feel, touch, smell, taste as much as possible. Make learning real!
  

• Are you looking to your husband for answers and insight?

• How is YOUR attitude? Are you showing diligence and patience? Are you talking to your children the way you talk to your friends?

• Is your relationship with your child more important than their school work for the day? Once you have their heart you can lead them anywhere.

• Are you comparing your child with others? Remember everyone is different…praise the Lord! Build up his strengths, work at his weaknesses. Encouragement, encouragement, encouragement!
  

• Are you putting character issues before academics? Hitler was a very intelligent man, with no character qualities. I’d rather engage an adult or child who is kind, trustworthy, and willing to serve than a boastful, arrogant adult that can cite the Table of Elements.

• LIMIT TOO MANY OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES! My biggest regret in raising my children is sometimes I have been too busy doing things that really didn’t matter. If I could change anything it would be that I should have spent more time just playing. Playing is very hard for me and I wish I would have just stopped and played.
• 
  

This would have been a great video clip for yesterday:

Children of Caesar

Learning at Home

Part 1 Stepping Out of the Box

Part 2 The Confusion of Socialization

Part 3 Qualified?

…

After the big socialization concern that most people have, then the, "What makes you qualified to teach when you don't have a teaching degree?" question pops up.

Again, I think this is a legitimate question because the majority of people (myself included at one time) equate a teaching degree with the ability to teach. Again, as we discussed yesterday, we need to define the word education. Not only that, but we need to define who's responsibility it is.

We will discuss this in greater detail tomorrow.

The main reason why we (Jeff and I) are the most qualified to teach our children is because God gave them to us. :o)  I know I will loose everyone that is not a Christian at this point. ;o) But it is because we ARE Christians that we do trust in Him and His Word. It is He that we will answer to.

No one knows our children better than we do. We know their strengths and weaknesses, not only in the academic area, but their character. We know what their natural bend is. We can tap in on their interest and encourage their learning through that.

Some are born with a strong bend toward math, or science or music. We are all different. When you teach your children at home you can really focus on their individual needs. You can do what is necessary, weed out the fluff that most curriculum offer, and design your child's education that fits them. Is that not what classes for the 'gifted' do?

Our son had a strong bend towards electrical things. So we did all we could to encourage in him in that area. He started his apprenticeship at 16. At 18 he decided he didn't want to do that, but I am thankful he figured that out early.  :o)

Our daughter that just graduated loves politics. We put her in many situations where she could use her gift. Her plans are to raise up future statesman… Praise the Lord!

God gave us these children to teach. He equipped us with a love and insight for our children that no one else can have. Above everything else, He gave us the responsibility to teach our children about Him, as we walked, talked, and sat with our children.  Personally, I think this would be very difficult if our children were away from us most of the day, most of their childhood, and under the instruction and influence of others.

And thou shalt teach them (God's commands) diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you  sit in your house, and when thou walk by the way, and when thou lie down, and when thou rise up.

Deut. 6:7 

It is not the government's responsibility to teach our children, they belong to us. Even if we did not want to teach them at home it is OUR RESPONSIBILITY to put them in a private school. You have to remember, whenever we receive something from the Government, we are giving up freedoms! Public education in this country is far from free. We pay for it in more ways than one, even if we do not use it.

We have a government educational system that is treating all children as if they have equal abilities and they don't. The system continues to reject truth and teach their agenda, which really is a socialistic agenda. History and science is often distorted. Most subjects are dumbed down so that everyone can pass the test…we'll discus that tomorrow. Literacy rates continue to drop as violence and immorality among the young increases.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

                                          Proverbs 1:7 

A fool is one who says there is no God. The government school system clearly teaches that. So why would I hand my child's heart and mind to be taught by someone who teaches the opposite of what I believe? The United States school system is following in the steps of the Rome, and look what happen to them.

What makes us qualified to teach our children? They belong to us for a short period of time. We taught them from the time they left the womb. We have worked at finding the right curriculum to fit their needs. We have worked at training their character. We have worked at teaching them to be life long learners!  And it is all because if our love for them and wanting what is best for them. That is what qualifies us. 

You will want to hop on over HERE , HERE AND HERE to read about why government education is not a good option.

I want to encourage those of you that are considering another choice for your children other than the government system. There ARE options, GOOD OPTIONS! There are hundreds, if not thousands of organizations that are more than willing to help get your started.

We will talk about resources on Friday.

The most common question when it comes to teaching your children at home is:

What about socialization?

. 

Today we will define socialization. We all have our own definition of socialization, without really thinking too deeply about it. 

From what I have observed over our years of homeschooling is that people automatically get this picture in their head of a small classroom in our home and the children are sitting at a desk or table all day. Nothing can be further from the truth!

In yesterday's post I told you about how my first semester of homeschooling was tear filled. Well, that was because we were sitting in a room, with our child at a desk and answering ALL of the questions on EVERY page in her workbooks. You see, she and I were miserable because all I knew was to sit at a desk and answer questions. Oh, how God has been so good to lead us from that bondage, but that is another topic for another day.

Back to socialization. My definition of socialization is to be able to communicate and interact with people of ALL AGES in society. This can not be done when the majority of a child's day/week/year/ childhood is in a room full of children her age. 

The dictionary defines socialization as:

1. "To place under government or group ownership or control."

In essence when you enroll your child in the government school system you are placing them under the government's control. Can we truly TRUST the government to do what is best for our children? Do we trust them with our money (taxes)? I sure don't, just look at the debt situation our country has. Look at how literacy rates have dropped dramatically since the start of compulsory attendance.

2."To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable."

Again, as I stated earlier, children need to be taught to be sociable with all ages, not just the 30 other 9 year olds in her class.

I try not to become too irritated when people ask me about the socialization issue because it really is their ignorance (just not knowing) of what true socialization is. They are thinking just like I did that first semester, a desk in a room with a book. :o/  

The opportunities to socialize that are open to homeschoolers are endless. Our 'schooling', and I hate to call it that because we have a lifestyle of learning not a school in our house, happens all day every day. Our children go everywhere with us. They have always gone with me when I shopped, paid bills, dealt with emergencies and cared for our neighbors. 

We are very involved in our community. We belong to a few civic groups and we ALWAYS take our children with us. When the dirty  work of such groups needs to be done our kids are right there with us. When adults are not acting like adults, our kids have been right there to watch, which gives us plenty of character lessons later. Jeff is a volunteer fireman, all of our kids are there to work every fund raiser, they are usually the only young people there. We volunteer at the county fair, when other children are sitting in a classroom. We get a ton of the socialization questions then! :o) But as long as our children are well behaved, pleasant and WILLING to do the dirty work most adults welcome them. We gain their trust and friendship as time goes on. We even volunteered at the nursing home for a couple of years, that was a hard yet rewarding experience. 

Because our children are at home with us and Jeff is self-employed our children take turns going with him everywhere. We were able to travel with him out of state twice last year as a family, we couldn't have done this if they were in a school. Just for the record, I think traveling is the best way to teach children anything and everything!!!

These are all opportunities to socialize. Then there are our field trips with other homeschoolers, church activities, 4-H club, music lessons/recitals, Leadership class, Speech class, Spanish class, co-op classes, balls, planning parties, and soccer with other homeschoolers. If anything, my biggest challenge has been to say no to alot of extra activities because we do need to stay home some and do book work! ;o) Some school years are busier than others.

So when you think deeply about it, most homeschooled kids are MUCH more socialized than public schooled kids. This does not mean that ALL homeschooled kids do well in this area, just as not all government schooled kids are not well socialized. My point is, asking the, "What about socialization?" question is silly! Overall which group of kids have the most opportunities to interact will ALL age groups and social classes? Which group of kids will see the adult world as it really is?

 Here are two great radio broadcast I listened to recently on this subject. I encourage you to listen to them:

I can't wait to share with you my special guest at the end of this week! 

Visit here for Part 1 of our series:  Stepping Out of the Box 

!!! 

This week we will be doing a series on homeschooling. Even if you do not ‘school’ your children at home you’ll want to follow along and tap in on ways to make the most of the time when your children are at home with you.

I thought I’d start with our story as briefly as I can.

When Jeff and I were married he had a 3 year old daughter which he had custody of. So I jumped head first into the roll of mom. Her birth mom had very little to do with her and by the time she was 5 her birth mother had completely quit using her visitation rights and nver contacted her. There were constant behavior issues with her at home and at school. If I could go back and relive those early years of our marriage I would so many things differently, not that I regret marrying my husband but the way we parented her would be different. That’s a whole different story for another day.

So she was in public school because that was all we knew. It was a CONSTANT struggle as she was in trouble at school all the time…just like at home. We even changed schools when she was in 4th grade.

I knew there were people that homeschooled in our area and I checked a couple books out from the library to read up on the subject. Jeff and I prayerfully considered teaching her at home and half way through her 4th grade year we took her out of the public school.

By this time we had two more children and within 4 years we had another one.

I spent that first semester teaching our daughter and we were both in tears. It was HARD!!! I had MANY, MANY days wondering if we were doing the right thing. The following school year our son would be starting his ‘kindergarten’ year. I WORRIED myself sick all summer if I was going to be able to teach him to read…after all how in the world do I know HOW to teach reading?

Something you need to know about me: As I grew up I HATED school, and that is putting it mildly. I struggled some when I was younger and my bother was a wiz at everything, thus my brother was labeled the “smart one”, and me? Well, I was not so smart. By the time I hit high school I could not care any less and did the very minimum to pass. On graduation day I was placed second at the bottom of my class. I really didn’t care! I served my time and was out of there!!!

I am confessing all of that to you just to say not only was I struggling with teaching my kids but I also had the curse of always feeling like I was not smart enough and just flat out not able. Family members had lots of raised eyebrows. :o/

Jeff was so encouraging, so supportive. He wanted what was best for his children and our family. He NEVER, EVER doubted me. In fact when I went into my worrying mode he always reminded it was because I knew I was weak that God would prove Himself strong and faithful.

Here we are, over 15 years later…still learning at home. I have NEVER regretted our choice. There are things I wish I had known when we first started, but I also feel like it was all part of the journey to get us where we are.

Our motives when we started home schooling are not our reasons we continue. Our convictions are so strong, but for different reasons. God has brought us so far and it is TOTALLY by His grace and glory, for which I am so thankful! This week I will share some of my favorite resources and more about the things I wish I had known 15 years ago! :o)

You won’t want to miss Friday’s installment of this series, I will have a special interview with a mom who was a public high school teacher and is now a homeschool mom with 7 beautiful children. I think you will be amazed at what she has to say. I admire her vision for education and life!