Homeschool Tips: Don't be pushed!
First Posted on: Aug 11, 2005
by: Kathryn Frazier
Here in Sunny Florida, the schools are back in session. Two different
school buses pick up children at the end of our block, the teenagers walk
in front of our house on their way to the nearby high school, and the
television and newspapers abound with back-to-school news and
advertising. It seems to come sooner every fall. So when is our family
starting back to the books? We'll see.
When I first started homeschooling, I felt very guilty if my kids were
not "doing school" during the traditional "school year", or even during
"school hours" for that matter. I was always afraid that if my children
were playing or doing chores or relaxing during "school" time, that meant
they were goofing off. I thought that if they weren't at the books at
10am, I must be a bad teacher. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The traditional school year has 180 days per year. We have 365 days per
year. We waste none of that time taking roll, lining up, or reviewing
materials that are already understood by our children. For our family,
we have moved beyond the idea of "schooling" and focus rather on
"education". Our children are taking in information, learning and
growing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have plenty of time.
Don't be discouraged if your pace is slower than someone else's. The
Bible says that "all hard work brings a profit" (Proverbs 14:23), so just
keep working at it. It may not seem like you are getting much done, but
if you doing your best, you have God's assurance that it WILL bring a
profit.
If you are not ready to begin formal lessons when your local schools are
starting, so what? We who have illnesses can especially get caught in
the trap of worrying, which leads to being sick, which leads to more
worry, more being sick.... and on and on. Be encouraged by God's
promise. Lay your children's education in His capable Hands and plug
away at your own pace. When you are ready, and not before, begin your
lessons.
In the meantime, you can encourage your children, and yourself, by
writing down things that they are already doing. Did your child read a
book? Write it down. Did she paint a picture? Catch a bug? Watch the
shuttle mission on TV? Ride his bike? Write it down. Children are
always learning, practicing, growing. Not all of education is in a book.
**********************************************
**********************************************
We are so blessed to have some of the "BEST" and "most
creative" Homeschool MOMS around, right here at BSHS.
Your experience can be the key to helping that other
struggling Homeschool Mom today. Do you have a tip to
share today? We would love to hear from you!
**********************************************
To reply to this tip or participate in other
conversations with fellow homeschool moms who live
with chronic illness or pain, please visit the School
Room and other rooms of our BSHS House message board
at http://beyondsurvivinghomeschool.yuku.com/ .
Do you have a tip you'd like to share? I'd love to
have your submission!
Please send it to me at:
bshs_leadership@yahoo.com
THANKS!
Debbi Farmer
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rest Ministries - Beyond Surviving Homeschool
http://www.restministries.org/life/homeschool.htm
888-751-REST (7378)
Join in the discussions at the Message Board:
http://beyondsurvivinghomeschool.yuku.com/
Then visit Rest Ministries' new Discussion Forum called "BSHS Sunroom"
http://restministriessunr...ndSurvivingHomeschooling
Receive mailings from the Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/g...nd_surviving_homeschool/
-------------------------------------------------------------------
First Posted on: Aug 11, 2005
by: Kathryn Frazier
Here in Sunny Florida, the schools are back in session. Two different
school buses pick up children at the end of our block, the teenagers walk
in front of our house on their way to the nearby high school, and the
television and newspapers abound with back-to-school news and
advertising. It seems to come sooner every fall. So when is our family
starting back to the books? We'll see.
When I first started homeschooling, I felt very guilty if my kids were
not "doing school" during the traditional "school year", or even during
"school hours" for that matter. I was always afraid that if my children
were playing or doing chores or relaxing during "school" time, that meant
they were goofing off. I thought that if they weren't at the books at
10am, I must be a bad teacher. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The traditional school year has 180 days per year. We have 365 days per
year. We waste none of that time taking roll, lining up, or reviewing
materials that are already understood by our children. For our family,
we have moved beyond the idea of "schooling" and focus rather on
"education". Our children are taking in information, learning and
growing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have plenty of time.
Don't be discouraged if your pace is slower than someone else's. The
Bible says that "all hard work brings a profit" (Proverbs 14:23), so just
keep working at it. It may not seem like you are getting much done, but
if you doing your best, you have God's assurance that it WILL bring a
profit.
If you are not ready to begin formal lessons when your local schools are
starting, so what? We who have illnesses can especially get caught in
the trap of worrying, which leads to being sick, which leads to more
worry, more being sick.... and on and on. Be encouraged by God's
promise. Lay your children's education in His capable Hands and plug
away at your own pace. When you are ready, and not before, begin your
lessons.
In the meantime, you can encourage your children, and yourself, by
writing down things that they are already doing. Did your child read a
book? Write it down. Did she paint a picture? Catch a bug? Watch the
shuttle mission on TV? Ride his bike? Write it down. Children are
always learning, practicing, growing. Not all of education is in a book.
**********************************************
**********************************************
We are so blessed to have some of the "BEST" and "most
creative" Homeschool MOMS around, right here at BSHS.
Your experience can be the key to helping that other
struggling Homeschool Mom today. Do you have a tip to
share today? We would love to hear from you!
**********************************************
To reply to this tip or participate in other
conversations with fellow homeschool moms who live
with chronic illness or pain, please visit the School
Room and other rooms of our BSHS House message board
at http://beyondsurvivinghomeschool.yuku.com/ .
Do you have a tip you'd like to share? I'd love to
have your submission!
Please send it to me at:
bshs_leadership@yahoo.com
THANKS!
Debbi Farmer
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rest Ministries - Beyond Surviving Homeschool
http://www.restministries.org/life/homeschool.htm
888-751-REST (7378)
Join in the discussions at the Message Board:
http://beyondsurvivinghomeschool.yuku.com/
Then visit Rest Ministries' new Discussion Forum called "BSHS Sunroom"
http://restministriessunr...ndSurvivingHomeschooling
Receive mailings from the Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/g...nd_surviving_homeschool/
-------------------------------------------------------------------
