by Sherri Seeley
The first homeschool conference I ever attended was when my oldest son was about two years old. I know that was early, but for those who know me, that's just how I am. Even during my pregnancy, I began to think about homeschooling. I don't know why. I didn't know a single person personally who had ever homeschooled and I knew nothing about what it would take to do it myself. I just felt as though it was something that was being laid on my heart and I was thinking about it more and more as time went on. By the time my son was two I needed to know more. I needed to find out if this was something for my family. I needed to contemplate the possibilities, think on the reasons to do such a thing, ponder and pray over what I was to do...I needed more information.
At this most wonderful event called a homeschool convention, I was surprised at the large number of families in attendance. I was impressed with the children and teenagers I went out of my way to talk to. I attended every class and session offered about homeschooling, what it was, and how to get started. I talked to moms. I talked to curriculum vendors. I talked to the speakers. I asked questions...many questions. I was a bit overwhelmed but in a satisfying way. I was convinced this was my calling. This was what I was supposed to do with my children. This thing called "homeschooling" was something I couldn't shake and no longer wanted to. I was hooked.
I don't recall the exact title of this one particular session I attended on that wonderful and memorable day, but at this one session, the speaker talked about each parent's vision for their family's homescooling experience. What your vision for learning is? What are the most important things you want your children to learn? What are your priorities? After you think through these thing, she asked us to write them down on paper.
She suggested this for several reasons: to help you know what direction you are going in, to keep you focused and on task throughout the years - especially as your child/children get older, and for it to bring you encouragement when the days are difficult and you're not sure you know what you're doing. I did this. I began to consider what were the most important things that I wanted my children to learn. What were the priorities for my family? What did I want to ensure that my children knew as they grew into productive citizens? Of course, academics were important to me. I always wanted my children to have the best education possible and to provide them with unlimited learning experiences, but I also wanted them to know Christ. I wanted them to have every opportunity to see Him in every subject that they learned. I wanted every day to center around Him, to make Him known to my children in a way that they would desire Him. How could I do that? By inviting Him into our educational experiences. Teaching about Christ and making Him know to my young ones was a priority for my family.
By writing down these goals, this educational vision I had for my children, I was able to at least mostly keep my sanity. On the days that were difficult and I felt I didn't know what I was doing, I pulled out the piece of paper that listed our homeschooling vision and it gave me great comfort. It encouraged me to stay the course. It reminded me why I was doing what I was doing. When my children didn't do as well as I expected on a standardized test, or hadn't learned some of the things the neighborhood children were learning at public school, or they couldn't read as well as their peers - I could take courage in the fact that although academics was one of our priorities, it was not our only priority. Grades were not as important as actual learning. Progress could be measured in more ways than an A on a science test or the ability to regurgitate historical dates.
On the days where I wanted to throw in the towel and call it quits, put the kids on the school bus, go get a full time job, I took a deep breath and remembered...remembered why I was homeschooling my children, why this was important to me and why it was best for them. We are all easily discouraged sometimes....especially when we're doing something that can be so hard, rewarding, but hard nonetheless! We often need to be reminded of God's great love for us and how He enables us to do things above and beyond what we sometimes think we are capable of doing. He sustains us. He is a present help. We can do all things according to His purpose. We are blessed to have the opportunity to teach our children at home and spend so much time with them. Quality time is important but quantity is key to emotionally healthy children.
My suggestion to you is write down the homeschool vision and goals you have for your family. Put them on paper. Put it in a safe place and pull it out ever so often to remind yourself of what they are and to keep yourself on task. It will help you stay focused on the big picture and not fall into the traps and details that fill our days. It will help you stay the course when you would rather throw up your hands and quit. It will comfort you when you are discouraged. This was one of the most helpful and beneficial things I ever did and I think it will benefit you too!
My son is now married and my daughter graduates high school this year. What a journey this has been for us! What a blessing! It has been almost too difficult to continue some years, but we stayed the course and I am blessed to have been such a constant part of my children's lives all these years! There's nothing like it! God is good!!!!
Best wishes to you in your homeschool journey! Gather information, talk with your spouse, and pray, pray, pray!
Here are some websites with articles and suggestions to help get you started writing your homeschool vision/purpose/mission statement down for your family:
Homeschool Curriculum for Life
Proverbial Homemaker
Homeschool Creations
The first homeschool conference I ever attended was when my oldest son was about two years old. I know that was early, but for those who know me, that's just how I am. Even during my pregnancy, I began to think about homeschooling. I don't know why. I didn't know a single person personally who had ever homeschooled and I knew nothing about what it would take to do it myself. I just felt as though it was something that was being laid on my heart and I was thinking about it more and more as time went on. By the time my son was two I needed to know more. I needed to find out if this was something for my family. I needed to contemplate the possibilities, think on the reasons to do such a thing, ponder and pray over what I was to do...I needed more information.
At this most wonderful event called a homeschool convention, I was surprised at the large number of families in attendance. I was impressed with the children and teenagers I went out of my way to talk to. I attended every class and session offered about homeschooling, what it was, and how to get started. I talked to moms. I talked to curriculum vendors. I talked to the speakers. I asked questions...many questions. I was a bit overwhelmed but in a satisfying way. I was convinced this was my calling. This was what I was supposed to do with my children. This thing called "homeschooling" was something I couldn't shake and no longer wanted to. I was hooked.
I don't recall the exact title of this one particular session I attended on that wonderful and memorable day, but at this one session, the speaker talked about each parent's vision for their family's homescooling experience. What your vision for learning is? What are the most important things you want your children to learn? What are your priorities? After you think through these thing, she asked us to write them down on paper.
She suggested this for several reasons: to help you know what direction you are going in, to keep you focused and on task throughout the years - especially as your child/children get older, and for it to bring you encouragement when the days are difficult and you're not sure you know what you're doing. I did this. I began to consider what were the most important things that I wanted my children to learn. What were the priorities for my family? What did I want to ensure that my children knew as they grew into productive citizens? Of course, academics were important to me. I always wanted my children to have the best education possible and to provide them with unlimited learning experiences, but I also wanted them to know Christ. I wanted them to have every opportunity to see Him in every subject that they learned. I wanted every day to center around Him, to make Him known to my children in a way that they would desire Him. How could I do that? By inviting Him into our educational experiences. Teaching about Christ and making Him know to my young ones was a priority for my family.
By writing down these goals, this educational vision I had for my children, I was able to at least mostly keep my sanity. On the days that were difficult and I felt I didn't know what I was doing, I pulled out the piece of paper that listed our homeschooling vision and it gave me great comfort. It encouraged me to stay the course. It reminded me why I was doing what I was doing. When my children didn't do as well as I expected on a standardized test, or hadn't learned some of the things the neighborhood children were learning at public school, or they couldn't read as well as their peers - I could take courage in the fact that although academics was one of our priorities, it was not our only priority. Grades were not as important as actual learning. Progress could be measured in more ways than an A on a science test or the ability to regurgitate historical dates.
On the days where I wanted to throw in the towel and call it quits, put the kids on the school bus, go get a full time job, I took a deep breath and remembered...remembered why I was homeschooling my children, why this was important to me and why it was best for them. We are all easily discouraged sometimes....especially when we're doing something that can be so hard, rewarding, but hard nonetheless! We often need to be reminded of God's great love for us and how He enables us to do things above and beyond what we sometimes think we are capable of doing. He sustains us. He is a present help. We can do all things according to His purpose. We are blessed to have the opportunity to teach our children at home and spend so much time with them. Quality time is important but quantity is key to emotionally healthy children.
My suggestion to you is write down the homeschool vision and goals you have for your family. Put them on paper. Put it in a safe place and pull it out ever so often to remind yourself of what they are and to keep yourself on task. It will help you stay focused on the big picture and not fall into the traps and details that fill our days. It will help you stay the course when you would rather throw up your hands and quit. It will comfort you when you are discouraged. This was one of the most helpful and beneficial things I ever did and I think it will benefit you too!
My son is now married and my daughter graduates high school this year. What a journey this has been for us! What a blessing! It has been almost too difficult to continue some years, but we stayed the course and I am blessed to have been such a constant part of my children's lives all these years! There's nothing like it! God is good!!!!
Best wishes to you in your homeschool journey! Gather information, talk with your spouse, and pray, pray, pray!
Here are some websites with articles and suggestions to help get you started writing your homeschool vision/purpose/mission statement down for your family:
Homeschool Curriculum for Life
Proverbial Homemaker
Homeschool Creations