Find a support group, attend a convention, study educational philosophies, pinpoint your child’s learning style, and choose a curriculum—many articles geared toward new homeschoolers give similar advice. However, the regional convention is far away, and at conventions we have witnessed the glazed eyes of the overwhelmed, inexperienced mom with her arms loaded with books as she wanders between vendor booths searching for the “perfect” curriculum for her family. Support groups are not available in some areas of the country, or it is difficult to find a group that shares your philosophy.
In the beginning, we spent hours reading about different philosophies and children’s learning styles, but ultimately, I still had no idea how to homeschool our children. The labyrinth of choices available to the niche market of Christian home educators is confusing at best and misleading at worst. The advice we received wasn’t necessarily bad advice, but as a new homeschooler, we didn’t find it helpful.
At Homeschooling Today magazine, we desire to offer practical help to our readers. Home education will look different in every family, and there is no exact formula for everyone, but we have found certain similarities and particular family habits that guide our choices and contribute to our success in training our children. These habits help you start homeschooling. . . . today.
Get Legal Knowledge
First, understand and comply with the homeschool laws of your state. From Homeschooling Today magazine’s homepage, www.homeschoolingtoday.com, choose Resources/ Homeschooling Laws and select your resident state. If you have concerns or questions, we recommend that you join the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). Your family membership provides a lawyer who stands ready should anyone challenge your right to homeschool, supports work to maintain the rights of parents to educate their children, and contributes to the defense of persecuted families. It is worth every penny of the reasonable fee.
Once you have rendered unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, turn your attention to rendering unto God the things that are God’s—the children, made in His image with whom He has blessed you (Matthew 22:21; Genesis 1:27).
Start with the Bible
Scripture opens with “In the beginning, God . . .” and our instruction should begin there. R. C. Sproul, Jr., a regular columnist for our Father’s Heart department, writes that Christians are required to teach only three subjects to their children. He nicknames them the three Gs: who God is, what God has done, and what God requires.
Some Christians might object to this goal simplification. After all, shouldn’t we be teaching our children how to get along in society, how to be hardworking employees, and how to be good citizens? All that and more is included in the summary of the commandments—to love God and to love our neighbor.
To teach the three Gs, it should seem obvious that the first and most important resource is the Bible. Yet it is so obvious that we often neglect it. Do you have a Bible? Read it together. Study it. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Apply what you read to everyday situations. Use it to teach and train your children. Use it to correct them. As you read it aloud together, investigate what you are reading. Dr. Ruth Beechick’s excellent book, A Biblical Home Education: Building Your Homeschool on the Foundation of God’s Word (B & H, 2007), includes many suggestions for enhancing your Bible study.
Family Worship
If your family has never enjoyed a regular, daily time together in God’s Word, you might consider The Family Worship Book: A Resource Book for Family Devotions by Terry L. Johnson (Christian Focus, 2003). With practical suggestions including how to structure your worship time, he offers resources for catechism and creeds, prayers, Psalms, and Bible reading schedules. Fathers, this is a particularly appropriate way for you to lead your family as you begin the adventure of home education. Perhaps you will lead a family time before or after breakfast, after dinner, in the evening, or before bed. The logistics are less important than that you actually implement the time. When you miss a day or two, as we all do on occasion, just resume leading it again.
If your children are young, using a story Bible can be helpful. The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos (Eerdmans, 1983) is our family favorite. Another great devotional for mothers to use with younger children is Leading Little Ones to God by Marian M. Schoolland (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1995). You can find suggestions for using this book in HST’s July/August 2008 issue in the Lessons for Little Ones department. I use this book to help my children form the habit of doing daily lessons with Mom. Even if you don’t use these particular resources, please do not neglect this most important, foundational, and overarching study.
A second enjoyable and educational habit that coincides with Bible reading is singing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as a family (Ephesians 5:19). Even if you are not musical, resources are available for family music, such as the Genevan Foundation’s Hymns for Kith and Kin (www.genevanfoundation.com/). This audio CD coordinates well with The Family Worship Book.
by Steve and Kara Murphy
Originally published in Homeschooling Today magazine January/February 2010