Soon after Peter was born we started thinking about homeschooling as an option. Then it became clear to us that it was the right option for our family. The years have gone by in a flash and we find ourselves only two years away from high school! Friends have started the conversations about whether or not to continue homeschooling. This or that reason they give for sending their children to school was beginning to put me into a bit of a panic. And then listening to others who plan to keep teaching their children at home and the methods they plan to use was sending me into a different kind of panic. Will I be able to give them what they need? How can I juggle the needs of a preschooler, 4 grade schoolers, a middle schooler, and a high schooler? Along with the discipline, housework, meals, etc. And then a few years later, how will I be able to juggle the needs of FOUR in high school all at the same time! I had to take a step back, a couple of deep breaths, and do a little research online before I remembered this- our homeschool will not and does not need to look like any other school or homeschool. We are one family striving to live here in this home in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. I need to keep getting up each morning showing my children that I am FULLY dependent on the Lord. I need to pray that He will give them first of all, a love for Him and second of all, a love of learning. The rest, I truly believe, will fall into place. We aren't trying to duplicate the text-bookish education they'd receive if they sat before an "expert" of a certain subject each day. Honestly, I had that kind of education and don't remember a whole lot of it. What I do remember is the teachers who made me want to learn more. Teachers who were kind and loved what they were doing. Teachers who exemplified Christ. I was also encouraged by watching a video of Susan Wise Bauer talking about homeschooling in high school. At the very end she said to just remember that you don't have to know what you're going to do for four years. You don't even have to know what you're doing for the next year. Rather, take it six months at a time. That was good to hear because I find myself thinking I have to plan out the "perfect" map through high school and stick with it exactly. It is helpful to get ideas from other families, but I think it is REALLY important to not allow comparisons to creep into my heart and mind and make me doubt my ability to do what God has called me to. I trust that until He makes it clear that He has a different educational plan for these children, He will give me the grace to keep on being their teacher.
1 Comment
Sheri
4/3/2014 02:54:22 am
You can do it. High school sounds intimidating, but it's not. We have now graduated 3. Something that a friend told me way back, was to layout the core curriculum that you want them to take to fill all four years (history, science, math, english/writing). Once you have those basics in place, each year all you have to do is add the electives that they are interested in. For example, All our 9th graders take a year long geography class, biology, writing/grammar, and whatever math level they are on. As extras we have a reformed theology class, small engine class, & a foreign language we are planning on adding. The best part is, by the high school years they should be learning on their own & scheduling most of their assignments themselves. Yes, mom/dad still oversees, but giving them the control begins to teach them how to budget their time gives them ownership of their work. After those 4 high school years, we aren't there to hold their hands anymore, and we need to make sure they have the skills to manage their time & work along with the academic studies. It's a wild ride, but fun and exciting to watch them mature into young responsible adults.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
All
December 2017
|