Mimi Rothschild - Home School Support & Home Education News

By Mimi Rothschild 

Math and science are not always the easiest subjects to learn, I wish they were because there are so many fascinating lessons to be learned in both subjects.  While surfing the web I found this excellent list of strategies that will help your student improve in the areas of math and science.  Each strategy includes articles or lesson plans so homeschooling parents can better understand how to apply them into their child’s homeschool curriculum. Below are the different methods scholars use to better understand math and science. 

By Mimi Rothschild

America is at the crossroads in many different facets of life. Religion, or difference in opinion on religious issues, acts as the catalyst that has propelled America to this new era of hostility between Christians and Atheists.

According to Rachel Zoll of The Washington Post Christopher Hitchens has published another anti-Christian book entitled “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” that has reached the top of the best-seller list. These sort of weightless attacks have become common over the last few years.

The spiritual battle in America is increasingly becoming more and more evident each day, especially in America’s schools. Zoll questions the future of America’s public schools because of the rapid growth of Christian homeschools.

Be sure to check out the debate between Hitchens and Reverend Doug Wilson, author of “Letter from a Christian Citizen,” on Christianity Today.

Other hotly debated topics that normally divide between religious lines include abortion, which the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a ban on partial-birth abortions.

To read more of Zoll’s compelling article click here.

By Mimi Rothschild

I would like to take a moment to extend our sympathies and prayers to the families of the students who were killed in the Virginia Tech massacre. In times like these, it is difficult to find words to express what we are feeling.

As a mother who has lost a child, I know all too well the pain that goes along with such loss. God has a plan. That’s all I can say. It may be difficult to accept this fact now, but please know that God giveth and taketh away according to a perfect plan.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

By Mimi Rothschild

In one corner we have the it-boy of evangelical Christendom, Rick Warren. Pastor of the 25,000-stronhigg Saddleback mega-church, Warren is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

In the other corner, Sam Harris, prominent atheist author and student of neuroscience.

When these two power-players square off, it is bound to be interesting.

I’m disappointed in Warren for invoking so many cliched and emotionally-based arguments. I would have liked to see a more logical approach. Then again, I think Sam Harris did not do nearly as good a job evaluating the historical effects of Christianity vs atheism.

What folks like Harris and fellow author Richard Dawkins must realize is that dogma exists on both sides.

Here are some highlights:

WARREN: You have common grace. Even in people who don’t believe in God, there is a spark God has put in you that says, “There’s got to be more to life than just make money and die.” I think that that spark does not come from evolution.

I believe this to be inarguable. In nature, we may find mothers protecting their young. However, have you ever seen a lion nursing the wounds of a wounded gazelle? The “Good Samaritan” phenomenon is a unique to humanity. Altruism is most certainly the product of man being created in God’s image.

WARREN: I don’t feel duty-bound to defend stuff that’s done in the name of God which I don’t think God approved or advocated. Have things been done wrong in the name of Christianity? Yes. Sam makes the statement in his book that religion is bad for the world, but far more people have been killed through atheists than through all the religious wars put together. Thousands died in the Inquisition; millions died under Mao, and under Stalin and Pol Pot. There is a home for atheists in the world today—it’s called North Korea. I don’t know any atheists who want to go there. I’d much rather live under Tony Blair, or even George Bush.

I like to focus on Pol Pot when making similar arguments. Here is a guy who brutally annihilated 80% of his country’s population in the name of socialism. This violence was not motivated by religion whatsoever, but in anti-religious dogmatism. Those who think that society would be better off if no one believed in God should merely turn their eyes to Soviet Russia, North Korea, or Cambodia.

The argument that Christianity is responsible for the world’s woes is half-baked. I would argue that people’s misinterpretation of Christianity, or the character of Christ, is responsible for much of the atrocities we see today.

Read the full debate at Newsweek.

by Mimi Rothschild

Dear husbands,

First of all, thank you for all your hard work and support. Without you, it would be a lot tougher for us to stay home and educate our children. We appreciate you bringing home the bacon, and totally understand that you just want to kick up your feet after a long work day. We understand that sometimes it might be easy to forget how much work homeschooling is, and we’re trying to be as patient as possible. That being said, here are some quick tips for ensuring that we homeschool moms remain happy, satisfied, and sane!

1. Talk to us

Nothing is more demoralizing than waiting an entire day for adult interaction than rushing to the front door to find a grump who just wants to be left alone. We understand that your job is stressful, but please come on! We’ve been teaching toddlers about ABC’s and pounding fractions into middle schooler’s heads for the last six hours. We need some adult conversation. Politics, current events, philosophy…heck just tell us how your day went. Moms need socialization too. If you neglect that need we’ll go nuts!

2. Ask what you can do

If you regularly ask what you can do to help out, we promise not to take advantage of your willingness. We might ask you to fold clothes or take a look at a clogged sink, but the gratitude we’ll send your way will more than compensate. There’s just some things that we homeschool moms can’t do or don’t have time to do. It’s tough to juggle the roles of both mom and teacher. The simple act of asking how you can do to help will do wonders for our sense of self-worth.

3. Be the “Principle” of our homeschool

We moms have our hands full with the teaching side. It’d be great to have some help with administration. Getting involved in our kids’ curriculum will assure me that you are interested in the wellbeing of our homeschoolers. If you could make some phone calls to evaluators, co-op leaders, or guidance counselors, that would be a dream come true. Also, if you could handle the discipline end of things, that would be great too. If we can delegate discipline to you, we won’t make mistakes by reacting emotionally.

4. Lead a family Bible study

God’s Word calls husbands to be the spiritual leaders of their families. Showing an interest in the spiritual development of our children will fill me with love and gratitude. We’re not saying you have to develop a daily sermon, just walk us through the Scriptures and help our kids apply what they’ve learned to their daily lives. Our homeschool will be a spiritual fortress for the Lord’s army if we could spend some time each day devoted to exploring His perfect will.

By Mimi Rothschild

I am often shocked by the current mainstream perception of homeschooling, given recent studies proving homeschooled students’ aptitude far outranks that of traditional public school students. When I come across these dubious folks, I have fun namedropping the following historical greats:

Homeschoolers are well represented in the literary world. Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women and other lauded novels, was taught at home by her father, who was himself homeschooled. One of the most famous mystery writers of all time, Agatha Christie was educated at home as well. One of my favorite quotes about home education comes from legendary author Beatrix Potter, who said, “Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.”

The art world is also populated by famous homeschoolers. Ansel Adams, one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century was pulled out of public school due to his unruly nature. He was known for interrupting lessons with giggling and open displays of disgust for his teachers. He was then pulled out of school and given a classical education at home. Andrew Wyeth, Claude Monet, and Leonardo da Vinci were all renowned homeschooled artists.

Two famous early presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams were both taught at home. The former was admitted to Harvard at age 15. The latter had been written off as a hopeless delinquent when his father, well aware of the benefits of home learning, arranged for his boys to be homeschooled from age twelve on. Other homeschooled presidents include Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and many more.

Alexander Graham Bell, Cyrus McCormick, and the Wright Brothers were famous homeschooled inventors. Thomas Edison entered school at age seven, but his teachers considered him to be a poor student, not realizing that his hearing problems were the root of his lagging performance. His mother chose to teach him at home him soon after.

There are hundreds more notable homeschoolers. Composers such as Irving Berlin and Wolfgang Mozart, generals like Stonewall Jackson and Douglas McArthur, and statesmen such as Patrick Henry and Winston Churchill were all products of home education.

Why is it that so many influential and innovative thinkers were homeschooled? I believe that the public school system encourages students to live by the status quo. It discourages thinking “outside the box.” Beliefs, behaviors, and thought patterns that lie outside the norm are squashed by unnecessary discipline, formulaic learning styles, and peer pressure. Homeschooling, on the other hand, nurtures an independent mind. Children are encouraged to follow their imaginations and dreams, rather than follow a rigid structure. Who knows, your child might just be the next Winston Churchill!

By Mimi Rothschild

There are some people who perceive the home-school as the seat of academic, social and spiritual education. The way these home-schools are being applauded and appreciated, one should note that such was not the case six years ago. People who would choose to home-school their kids were either thought of as people who were social misfits or as those who were foolish enough to make their children intellectually inferior. Needless to say, with the astounding results of home-schools in the US and in other places around the globe, the parents who chose to home-school are finally receiving the recognition they deserve.

Academic experts have recently found that parents are quite capable of teaching their children efficiently and effectively. They even found that the home-school children were socially active and they possessed the same social skills if not better, than their traditional school counterparts.

Recently, tabloids, the television and the Internet are have had a field day talking about how home education is a fashionable new method of education. Certain sections of the press, however, would look at home-schools as a sort of political movement or a cause to bring people away from the Church. As they ventured further, the press began to laud home-schools as a favorable educational alternative. There are trends that come and go, but home-schooling is here to stay.

By Mimi Rothschild

As the popularity of home schooling grows in different parts of the country, there are allegations by people who are feel threatened by its ongoing success. The California Department of Education, for example, represents one such entity that is insecure about the growth of home schooling. One should not treat the intentional salvos unleashed by the Department of Education as just another insular event that should be brushed aside. The sad fact is that the section of society that does not want home schools to flourish can gang up to thwart their progress.

Parents and concerned members of society should be aware that the debate is not for education, but for matters beyond. The California Department of Education needs to be shown that they have no right to judge what is right or wrong for our children.

There is a reason why people home school their children. Parents who patiently waited for a change to transpire in public schools finally decided that enough is enough. They were tired of the callous attitude shown by public and private schools toward their children. Furthermore, if private schools were advocating a partial approach toward some children, the public schools were hiring teachers with questionable academic credentials. Disillusioned, parents found out that home schooling was the best way to educate their children in an equitable and ethical manner.

The elite and the bureaucrats are not concerned about the children’s interests. If they really cared about academic performance, they would have appreciated the performance of home school children. The root of this controversy is money. The state education department has a deficit budget because the school districts receive funds based on the number of students attending public schools. As the number of children drifting to home school increases, the state education departments are receiving less money. Though budget is a primary reason why the bureaucrats are crying wolf, it is an undeniable fact that they are feeling threatened because they are no longer able to control what goes into the heads of children.

Regardless of the tirade against home schooling from petty-minded bureaucrats, the home school movement continues to progress; thanks to the dedication and support of forward-thinking Americans who want to free their children from the dangers of inferior education.

By Mimi Rothschild

Two of the major reasons why many parents choose homeschooling are the ability and freedom to instill in our homeschooled children the values we prize and the ability to adhere to those values throughout their lives in spite of outside pressures. It is a constant battle to resist a society of exceptions.

I was less than surprised when a friend asked if we would allow our homeschoolers a reprieve from being vegetarians. The issue was over Halloween candy. Apparently they felt sorry for our homeschoolers for being “forced” to adhere to a seemingly cruel prohibition against sweet and sugary snacks. I was not so surprised by this request, but still shocked that it had come from someone I had known for years and who knew the commitment that we have had to keep our homeschoolers healthy and free of junk food.

As homeschooling parents we had enjoyed the ability to control what our homeschoolers eat to a degree that other parents have not. Without the parental supervision, other kids were free to gorge themselves on fatty, salty and sugary snacks at school and elsewhere. My friend had been around when I had made these diet changes to our lives. Had they not noticed the healthy weight loss or the increased energy levels? Even in the homeschool support groups and at homeschool events I have seen a lack of respect for our family’s choices. Group activities are invariably strewn with junk food.

On the whole, our children are proud of our values and our ability to remain faithful to them, but the lack of respect shown by others has sometimes created rifts in friendships. The insensitivity to our chosen lifestyle has sometimes bordered on mean-spirited rudeness. Some parents look at us like we are torturing our children or forcing our beliefs upon them. Being a homeschool parent has helped make us stronger and aided us in helping our children to understand the value in standing by our convictions. Our children are proud of our values and we are proud of them.

By Mimi Rothschild

Many people think of homeschooling only for those who have specific religious beliefs, but that isn’t always the case. Though being able to teach your child religion along with their curriculum is a benefit, many parents homeschool for other benefits. Some find the public schools not only over crowded but often they are poorly supervised. Many do not want their children exposed to the trouble often found in public school hallways. Another thing to consider is the time a child is actually learning at school. How much time is used for behavior issues, having students line up, and getting ready for the next activity.

Though classroom activities can often be a nice experience, if you have a child who has fallen behind, you will realize that a teacher with many students will not have enough time to help your child. Often this will mean your child will lag even further behind making it nearly impossible for them to catch up. With homeschooling you can teach to any specific subject the child may be struggling with. While homeschooling a parent can help their child with any specific problems or topics they need to cover, while a traditional school will need to move on with the lesson for the benefit of the whole class. This may leave your child behind. Now you can take your time homeschooling and not skipping over important topics. This will help your child achieve while learning in a style that suits them best.

If your child is ahead of their class, they may become bored and often can start showing behavioral problems. Teachers may ignore the smart child because they never need help and will do fine on their own. Is it right to ignore them when there’s so much potential? A gifted child may advance rapidly with homeschooling. Learning at their own pace is a great benefit that homeschooling offers. Mixing grade levels in curriculum is very common among home schooled families. Often a gifted child will also benefit by joining a gifted group in the local area. It is often found that many gifted children are homeschooled.

Learning more about your child’s individual needs, learning style, and learning pace will help you when selecting the correct home school curriculum. Some children learn better with hands-on projects, while others would rather read. Many homeschool classes are offered for your home schooled child to socialize. Locating a home school group in your area will not only help your child but will help you as a parent and teacher. Speaking with other parents who have homeschooled for years will give you some insight to what might suit your child best. Home school group parents often organize field trips and special groups, such as chess or a Boy Scout or Girl Scout group that homeschools.

Homeschooling offers many challenges but can be very rewarding. Take a chance and homeschool your child. You may just find that you enjoy the role of a teacher almost as much as parenting.