Homeschooling 101: Getting Started (Part 1)
It can be daunting not knowing where to get started when you first set out to homeschool. You may be a mom whose children are young or a mom who is beginning this adventure midstream. Either way, you're probably wondering what you need to do, where to start, what curriculum to use, plus a hundred million more questions. And, while this blog won't cover every question, it should give you some insight into this wonderful, and challenging, world of homeschooling.
Before I started homeschooling my children, I was attending a Bible study with other women, all of whom were homeschooling moms. I was able to ask them all sorts of questions. I asked them all my questions about schedules, curriculum, reading, what their days looked like, how they got started. I gleaned a lot during that time and now it's time that I pass along that information to you.
What does a typical school day look like?
In the early years, a typical school day is somewhere between 2-4 hours. Teaching should be gentle and nurturing. Lessons can be pulled from the world around you. Lessons should be brief (10-15min) as attention at this age wanes quickly. For older children, the length of time per lesson can be extended (15-20min) due to a greater capacity for focused attention.
At home, you can accomplish far more than a full day's work because you're on hand to offer encouragement and gently correct where needed. Little Tommy doesn't have to wonder if his math is done right, because you're on hand working with him giving him instant feedback. He doesn't need to wait for the teacher with 30+ students to realize he might be having difficulty, hoping she might be able to tune into his need. He's got you. Yes, you might be tending to a baby and he will learn patience in the moment, but then you will be his and he will have your focused attention once again.
So many times I think we're tempted to model our homeschool after the education we received in public school. But moms, you're not limited to awkward desks, uncomfortable chairs or having your children sit still for hours on end. Instead, you can take school outside in the fresh air, explore natural wonders, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while snuggling up together, read a story on your favorite beanbag chair or let your child pace about the house as he mentally constructs his oral narration. Your children have time to absorb what they've learned and pursue their interests even with their pajamas on!
How do I plan for the year? My first year was hyper-planned, everything in place so much so that I found it difficult to veer away from my plans and at times, I failed listen to the Holy Spirit's guidance. The following year, the Lord led me to a resource that had been undiscovered on my bookshelf for years called, "Time for Tea". In Volumes 1-2, Cindy Rushton gave a call for simplicity. Simplicity of purpose, in commitments, in curriculum, in homemaking and in our hearts. To make a long story short, I didn't spend my entire summer feverishly planning our entire school year in detail.
Like Noah building an arc without a hint of rain or Joshua marching with his choir to defeat his enemies, I decide to take an unconventional approach...I planned nothing, trusted for God's provision and waited with baited breath. And, our year was equally full and rewarding.
Now, although I've gone to both ends of the spectrum in planning, I've since developed a balanced plan that allows us ample time to learn and have margin.
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When making a plan, map out your core subjects (reading, writing and math).
Add variety to your schedule with history, geography, science, picture study, music study, nature study, foreign language, character development, scripture memory, poetry, physical fitness and handicrafts. Include any outside activities that require your time (co-ops, music, sports, clubs, etc.). Decide on how much time you will need for each child, for each subject per day and write that down.
Mix it up. When we use our arms to lift a heavy box, then a massive crate, then another weighted box, our arms tire. Similarly, when we use the same parts of our body or mind, they tire of the same action. With this in mind, our planning should allow our children to read, move, write, sing, observe, listen, and narrate. Subjects should be arranged in such a way to give variety. In our home, piano has become a reward for my children. It gets them away from the table doing something active. My son has a fitness program on his iPad that he and my daughter use 2x per week in between history and math.
Don't overload your schedule. Often in our attempts to provide a complete education, we sometimes overdo it. We pile on too much, become overwhelmed and our children suffer. We swamp them with so much busywork that they don't produce a real product. We're so committed to their academic achievement or "socialization" that we spend more time in the car shuttling them from one educational activity to the next and we fail to disciple them. "My interpretation of Deuteronomy 6 is that for us to teach God's way then what we teach must be natural...must be easy to teach along the way...must be a passion...must build relationships in the family...must help them mature toward the purpose that God has for them." ~ Cindy Rushton
