Christian Homeschooling: How To Survive
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When you are faced with difficult times in your homeschooling experience, here are several tips to help you survive:
Think about why you and your family decided to start a Christian homeschool. One of the most prominent reasons is so that your family could have more time together.
When problems arise, don’t start looking to the public school system to solve them for you. Your answer is within your family, so gather the family together to discuss the issues, and brainstorm how to fix them.
Everyone loves family traditions. Think back on when you were growing up. What traditions did your family have? Which ones can you begin in your own family? Which new ones can your family think of that you would like to start? Perhaps one of your traditions will be to begin each school day with prayer.
Celebrate unusual holidays and incorporate the history into your homeschool. For example: February 7th is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birthday; March 15th is National Buzzard Day; and April 23rd is the birthday and day of death for William Shakespeare. Weaving events and celebrations into your study will bring interest and creativity.
Have you ever took the time to ask your children what they would be interested in studying? Maybe what you’re currently teaching holds absolutely no interest to your child at this stage of his education. So, who says you have to continue? You’re in charge, so go ahead and change it if you need to. The more your kids are interested in learning what you are teaching, the less conflict you will encounter. So go ahead and ask them!
Give yourself permission to free the children of a curriculum or program if it isn’t working. A plan that has everyone stressed out, crying, and fighting is not a good plan at all.
Accept chaos as normal! If you wait to homeschool until life is neat and tidy, it will never happen. The most teachable moments are usually in the middle of bedlam.
Just because you have two or more children in your homeschool, all from the same family, doesn’t mean they all learn things the same way. One may pick on things simply by hearing them (auditory), another through reading or looking at pictures and diagrams (visual), and another through hands on projects and activities. Learn how your child best learns, and then try teaching his least favorite subjects using his favorite method of learning.
Comparing our children to those who are schooled traditionally only creates defeat and poor self-esteem in your child and in you. Homeschoolers learn differently; our freedom to learn in our own way is our key to success.
Have faith in your family and faith in your conviction to homeschool. Stay in touch with your support group for enrichment and good ideas.
Take a break! If homeschooling isn’t working, drop what you are doing and go to the park and play. Breathing in fresh air can lend itself to a fresh perspective on everyone’s attitude.
Always remember that if you’re continually stressed out, your children will be too. You can’t give your children peace of mind if you don’t have it yourself. So go ahead and pamper yourself once in a while. Go to a movie, have a special date with your spouse, go the spa! You get the idea. Get your life spiritually and emotionally re-filled, so you have something of value to give to your children.
Related posts:
- Motives To Begin Homeschooling Your Child Right Away!
- How to Tell if Homeschooling is Right for Our Family
- Dealing with Homeschooling Nay-Sayers
- Early Homeschooling From Cradle to Kindergarten
- What is Homeschooling All About, Anyway?
- The Christian Method of Home Schooling
- Accredited Homeschooling Information
