How to Homeschool

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I've been participating in the 
​How to Homeschool Event for Moms hosted by Beyond the Stick Figure. Last month's event was so good, they decided to do it again. I'm excited to be a guest speaker again this coming week.

If you missed the first round, the videos of my talk and others are in the Event's Facebook group while it's open this week. There has been a ton of great information and lots of questions answered.

I figured I'd use this post to give you some notes from my first two talks and a taste of what is to come.
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Keep in mind, as the cRaZiNeSs of this world takes over, these simple principles can help those teachers and parents who are still working with the more traditional classroom setting.

The Importance of Consistency and Flexibility in Homeschooling a Large Family

The first talk I spoke on is the topic I feel is most important to address in parenting, and definitely in homeschooling. Let's face it, homeschooling is hard. I'm not going to candy-coat it for you.

Consistency means you are:

• Dependable
• Confident
• Faithful (humble and encouraging)
• Decisive
• Enduring
• Orderly and organized

Flexibility means you are:

• Generous
• Forgiving
• Joyful
• Resourceful
• Sensitive
• Compassionate

And all of this takes Discernment to know when to apply each characteristic.

We talk about juggling or balancing, but the truth is there is no such thing as balance. Each family has unique dynamics to work with and can only be applied in special ways. Being able to be consistent enough for your family to have stability and confidence, yet flexible enough to meet the challenges of each day with cheerfulness and a level head is the key to growing children who can be responsible and reliable citizens who walk through life with peace and joy.

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all of these." ~ George Washington Carver

You CAN work and homeschool

Again with the Consistency and Flexibility! Whether you are working from home, or away from home your family must know what to expect while still knowing there is basic stability even amidst the unexpected.
Training and good habits are so important when working as well. This is where Charlotte Mason can be so very helpful. Whether you use her methods with anything else, grasp and apply her thoughts on habits.

Working from home:

• Business hours. This is for you and the children, something they can count on. I suggest creating daily tubs of themed toys and games the children can only play with on those days.
• I also suggest a 4 day school week with 1 day specifically for you to work. This is going to be a play-day, movie-day, fun-day for the children with easy foods planned out or prepared ahead.
• Help from elsewhere with housekeeping, bookkeeping or babysitting... If you have a business, budget it in to hire someone. If you have someone you trust explicitly to help babysit, enjoy it.

Working away from home:

1. Take the children with you when you can and find work they can do too. Children love to feel helpful and productive.
2. A good babysitter, someone you trust. Provide educational stories, videos and crafts they can do with the children that work with the theme of your homeschool for that week or month. For example, if they are learning about Anne of Green Gables, get a coloring book from Dover Publications and the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre audio book to go with your study.
   • Note of caution:  Do NOT expect babysitter to teach your children, unless they want to and you are going to take time to stay on top of what and how things are being taught!
3. Schedule periodic time off. While the traditional 2 week vacation seems like something to look forward to and "the thing to do" these days, your children won't remember that as much as the little 3 or 4 day weekends you took to do little things with them, like STAY HOME and watch movies, play games or build some project with them....

Take time to LAY IT OUT.

1. Plan the books (or worksheets) the children will go through in the year and have them laid out, in order that they need to be accomplished. Then all you (or they) need to do is put that one up and grab the next one as they complete assignments.
2. Plan TIME... Time is important and it's something we NEVER seem to have enough of, BUT time is also RELATIVE. You MAKE what you need.

I will be speaking in the group on Wednesday, July 29 at 5 p.m. on The Difference between School-at-Home and Homeschool.

This is a biggie too. 

In the beginning...

• What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word "school"?
• Now... What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "homeschool"?

How different are those pictures?
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I remember when I fist started homeschooling and I've heard so many mothers relate similar stories. A little desk set up with a chalk board and all those things we bring in from our school memories. Needless to say... It didn't work.

I look forward to seeing you Wednesday evening at the How to Homeschool Event for Moms! I hope you take time to see some of the other great speakers as well!