Homeschooling is sharing - with our children, the Christian community and fellow homeschoolers. We share what works for us, knowing that not everything will work for everyone. My words are only from one person’s perspective; so I’ve taken some time to gather a few others’ thoughts and share with you their blogs…enjoy!
Love2B Homeschoolers says, “It’s amazing how I am so ensconced in my role as mother, that even a simple list that might start out elsewhere leads to my children and why I homeschool…”
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Feel free to share your thoughts, other blogs or what has worked for you and your homeschooling students…we can all learn from each other!
John Christensen’s changed lives through his inspiring words spawned from Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market during three days in 1988, while he watched, talked and listened to the owners and co-workers enjoy their time on land and sea. These employees inspired Christensen with a zest of life and a vision of individualism - awakened from their slumber only to question their own daily activities; regardless of the Public School of Thought around them.
Be There - on time, ready, willing to be the active person that contributes to the solution; not the problem
Make Their Day - have an open heart and mind for the world around you, and share that mentality with a kind, thoughtful gesture; for no other reason than to make someone else smile
Choose Your Attitude - not your emotional balance, but rather who you want to be right now; pleasant, helpful, a joy to be around
Play - have fun; enjoy breathing, congratulate yourself for not locking the keys in the car, reward yourself for being the best you that God intended you to be
Sounds familiar, right?
Truth is Christensen was about 1,988 years or so late to the party, right?
Before Christensen, there was Christ - There, Making Our Day, He Chose to die for us. And in Him, we Pray.
Homeschooling is an important, life changing step for you and your child or children. It is a calculated decision not made on impulse, rather a daily choice to instill Christian values and be a positive role model in his/her life.
Here are three easy tips to sustaining your decision and maximizing the overall experience:
•1.) Start on time
Sure, things happen and reasons turn into excuses quicker than flapjacks can turn into Frisbees. And it is as much on you as it is the student/s. Pick a time, agree to it with your child or children, and stick to it. If your child is ten or fifteen minutes late to class, keep him or her during recess or after school for that same amount of time. Think of it this way: were you or your spouse allowed to arrive and depart work whenever you pleased? School is a student’s job. Teaching is your calling. You can do it with diligence and integrity!
•2.) Bathroom pass
Yes, this does sound silly. We can agree on it, but try it. It works for some families. Have a lesson plan or morning activity to create a lovable and livable set of rules and a bathroom pass. My kids, during one of our art classes, cut theirs into the shape of a skeleton key and wrapped it with layers and layers of clear contact paper making it stiff as a board - they said it felt more real that way. Hanging it under their progress chart reminded them that every action has an equally powerful reaction. Miss class because you are playing with the dog instead of using the bathroom, no gold star for the morning, afternoon or perhaps even the day!
•3.) Divide and Conquer, with books
If you find your child losing his/her attention quickly and distracting your other students/children, consider building a bookcase or divider to keep the focus. Bookcases were particularly helpful in our home, because it enabled me to see the learning in my children’s eyes. No distractions. Plus, reference material was right at their fingertips. Our computer was located behind them, so I could see the monitor while one of them was completing their course work online.
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I know structure and discipline aren’t easy exercises to instill, but I also know that time and effort will equate to success. Utilize these three easy steps and you’ll find yourself and your students maximizing your time together. If you need it, you can create daily structure, discipline and an enriching experience for you and your children. I bet you’ll be pleased with the results!
Feel free to e-mail me at Mimi@LearningbyGrace.org with questions or techniques you find helpful. God Bless!
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