Homeschool Wisdom

Jake and Scott, ready to throw Al with his "coat of many colors" into a pit.

We started homeschooling in 1998, not knowing what we were doing or where it would lead.  Now, with one year left until my youngest son is finished, I offer some thoughts on homeschooling:

1.  If you teach nothing else, if you give your kids nothing else, give them your Christian faith.  On the last day, that's the only thing that will matter.

2.   Teach values, especially the value of hard work, so that your kids can support themselves and serve others.

3.   Realize that education happens over years, not days, not weeks.  The "5-year old who can't tie his shoe" won't have that problem when he's 15.  All learning takes time.

4.   Don't be a slave to curriculum, to worksheets, to schedules, to getting it all done.  Adapt and do what works.  Let the curriculum serve you, and don't be afraid to change it.  Buy sparingly at the beginning and fill-in the gaps as needed.

5.   Teach logic; teach your children to think and to reason. Have them read books on different subjects, and challenge their thinking by delving into "unsafe" topics.

6.   Homeschooling allows people of different ages to enjoy and learn from each other.  Let your children work and learn with both older and younger kids, and with adults.

7.    Teach household skills - cooking, washing clothes, cleaning.  Teach your kids how to treat colds and other viruses and how to use over-the-counter items and prescription medications.  

8.   Be active in your local church.  God gave us the church; it's your community.

9.  Do your own thing.  Don't try to replicate a public school classroom in your kitchen.  And don't copy that "perfect" homeschool family.  

10.  Relax.  Enjoy your kids and enjoy teaching.  Let your kids have school in their pajamas!   You won't regret the fun and silly times.