"Train up a child in the way he
should go,
and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6
Most of us have heard this from our
youth.
But does it really ring true?
If you were raised in a real Christian home,
you probably know that it is.
But, what happens when we take an impressionable
young mind, and fill it with so many wrong ideas?
That mind becomes confused and doesn't really
comprehend right from wrong.
"It
is in fact nothing short of a miracle that the
modern methods of instruction have not yet
entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry;
for this delicate little plant, aside from
stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom;
without this it goes to wrack and ruin without
fail."
- Albert
Einstein
One of the most
frequently asked questions we hear
regarding homeschooling is, "What about
socialization?"
Think about this for a minute.
Scenario #1: A five year-old child is put in with a group
of
25-30 of his peers with one person in authority.
Who will the child hear more often -
the one teacher, or the 29 other students?
Are five year-olds a good teacher of morals?
Have they had many life experiences
to pass on to your child?
(This gets more serious when we talk
about a group of teenagers.)
Scenario #2: A five year-old child is
kept at home among
the people who love him most - his parents and siblings.
He learns to share, to respect others, and to get
along with ALL age groups. He has real life
experiences as he goes to the store with his mom
or dad, or listens while his parents talk to others
on the telephone, or at the front door.
He goes many places with his parents and
learns how to treat people by following his
parents' example. He visits with other homeschool
families, who have children of different ages,
so he learns to appreciate people of all ages.
One of the frequent remarks I hear from
others
about our 16 year-old daughter is how well she
responds to adults. They find they aren't usually
greeted by a teenager, much less carry on a
conversation with them.
We have been able to travel - taking
school with us -
and visit the places we study. Photographs in a textbook
do not do justice to the Grand Canyon, or to viewing
the Atlantic Ocean from the top of a lighthouse.
Our daughter has learned finances from running
a small in-home baking business, and writing, publishing,
and selling her own newsletter.
One of the key benefits of
homeschooling for our family
is the relationship that has developed from learning
together.
My husband and daughter have learned to laugh together
as they garden, build furniture, and struggle through
physical fitness.
Through watching our daughter blossom into a young woman,
I have learned to appreciate the child God gave me.
We bake bread, build with Legos, run and swim,
and more importantly, hug and pray together frequently.
I thank the Lord for the freedom to teach our
daughter at home (or wherever we happen to be.)
Focusing on our Lord Jesus Christ in
all aspects
of our lives has been a blessing to our family.
Through homeschooling, we have been able to instill
God's Word and His values in our family.
We see that we don't have to compartmentalize
our lives, but that with God as the center of our lives,
everything comes into focus.
We see the world through God's eyes,
and we keep the proper perspective.
And, remembering the words of our
Savior,
"I AM the Way, the Truth, and
the Life.
No one comes to the Father, but by Me." John
14:6.
Our family takes these words seriously.
Our Lord created us as different as the
snowflakes,
of which no two are exactly alike.
He knew that we would learn differently,
so home teaching allows each child to be taught according
to the method that works best for him.
Thomas Edison is an example of a person succeeding
only after being taken from a traditional classroom
setting.
Read his biography here - Thomas Edison's biography
HOW DO I GET STARTED? A good place to begin is by knowing the laws
of your state concerning homeschooling.
It is LEGAL in all 50 states! Home School
Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is
a good place to start. Their site includes the state
laws,
support organizations, and other helpful information.
Learn each of your children's learning
styles.
Do they enjoy reading, and can they accurately
communicate what they read?
Do they learn from listening to someone speak?
Do they learn by taking something apart and
reconstructing it?
Most of us have a combined learning style,
but the listening approach (lectures) is the least
popular,
yet that is what is emphasized in the institutional
setting.
There are various ways to teach your
child,
and they will learn on their own timetable.
Children are naturally curious and will soak up
information like sponges, if it is presented in
an appealing way.
Explore some of the differing ways to let your child
learn.
Homeschool
Oasis - A complete wealth of information on
every aspect of homeschooling you can imagine.
See important note at bottom.
Homeschool Methods - this
website includes a synopsis of the general
methods used by many homeschooling families. Remember, there are
also several good online schools. One, in particular, is
The
Potter's School.
Curriculum Fair in a Box -
Here you can order a sampler of different
curricula materials to get an idea of the
different ways to teach your children.
Robinson
Curriculum - Teach a child some facts, and he can pass a
quiz, BUT, teach a child HOW to learn, and he will always teach
himself.
Pray and let your imagination be
your guide.
If God is leading you to homeschool, He will be with
you to make certain that His will is done.
Just as in this life, we will have troubles,
there will be snags in our homeschools.
But the Lord is faithful!
Stay on your knees, and your children will know Him.
That is the best education of all!
"'For I
know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,
'plans to prosper you and not to harm you;
plans to give you a hope and a future.
Then you will call upon Me, and come and pray to Me,
and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me
when you seek Me with your whole heart.'"
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Subject
Helps - Games
General Funbrain.com - Various math,
grammar, and other games
Stock
Market
game - explains stocks and how they are
traded.
Chips Blaster Just for FUN!!
Add chocolate chips to the cookies before they
fall! (This page has several different
games - Chip Blaster is in a drop-down menu with
other
selections.)
Farm
Stand
math game - Use multiplication and addition facts
to buy
farm produce.
Cash
Register
game. Learn how much change you receive from the
store.
Multiplication
Concentration - A
Concentration style game using multiplication
facts. There is also an addition
version on the A+ Math "Games" page.
(This takes a few
minutes to load.)
