WHY HOMESCHOOL?

 

I bet you are asked this question often; I know I am. Of course, many people find out I was a public school teacher and suddenly believe all is okay. "You're an expert, you're qualified...." they often say. To be truthful, my training as a teacher is one thing I must overcome. My goals in homeschooling are so different than my goals as a classroom teacher.

Before discussing approaches to homeschooling, I would like to offer some reasons that our family homeschools. One of my favorite responses to why homeschool is "socialization". I wish I had thought of this answer myself, but I didn't. When someone hears that answer, they usually don't have a response for you. They are too shocked that your answer is why many think you should not homeschool..........on to my top 4 reasons to homeschool (these are shared equally with my husband).

TOP FOUR REASONS FOR OUR FAMILY

1. Godly priorities and values

We homeschool because we can center our family with Biblical priorities and values. Many people believe their priorities should be God, spouse, children, then everything else; but how many people alter their daily activities to allow for these priorities. When we decided to homeschool we decided to implement our values into our daily schedule. Instilling values of God and family became the top priority in our homeschool. We did not have to follow the goals and values of teachers, other students, administrators, school boards, etc. This is what God used to push us into homeschooling and one of the main reasons we continue.

2. More time and flexibility as a family

The year before we began homeschooling was a year of NO time for our family. Our daughter spent so much time finishing homework that we rarely read aloud together or had devotions as a family. Reading the Bible and excellent literature had always been a priority, but we had lost time for reading. We made the decision to take back our priorities and our family as we began to homeschool. Since we do not have to be "at school" by a specific time, we can read our Bible together to begin our day. Now, don't read too far between the lines....there are still days we don't read together. But, those days are fewer and much further apart.

3. Superior academics

"Classroom teaching has the inevitable long-term effect of dumbing down the curriculum, reducing the method to minimums, and lowering the quality of results. So, specialized programs must be introduced. Of course, that can happen in Homeschooling as well, but not as the result of an inherent weakness in the institution of the family itself, but rather as the result of personal indolence, or of mimicry of the classroom, in place of personal tutoring." (Teaching the Trivium, p. 67 www.CurriculumConnection.net/teachingtrivium.htm)

Homeschooling takes one-third the amount of time as a classroom and has an individualized program for each student. Far superior resources may be used for each student. . . just go to the library, pick a few classics and read them to your children!

4. Well-rounded education

When I trained our Sunday School teachers, I often used the following verses to encourage teachers to use all the aspects of class to teach Biblical principles.

......you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Now, I have the pleasure of applying these verses with my own children. Since God has invested my children to my husband and me, we want to use the activities in our family as learning/teaching tools. My hope is for my children will be prepared for all aspects of life, not just for academics.

To read more about our homeschool, see www.homeschoolblogger.com/LeadershipEducation

Kerry

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Kerry Beck, author of Raising Leaders, Not Followers, encourages parents to think outside the box as they raise their children to lead wisely. She wants to give you a Free Report, "How to Get It All Done" at http://www.curriculumconnection.net/newsletters.htm

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