Author: Wendy Young

The power of a successful homeschool journey cannot be over emphasized. Every parent who home schools wants to enjoy the adventure, grow close to their children and have well rounded children at the end of it. But moms hold the power to sabotage their own homeschools and often they do not even know they are doing it. Here are some warnings (and remedies) for homeschooling parents so that you are do not become one of them.

Warning #1 – You have no systems in place

How do you know this is happening? You cannot find your school books, the children cannot find their pens and pencils, your laundry is piling up and you cupboards and fridge are empty.

Solution – Take one afternoon on the weekend to plan your meals, do your grocery shopping, get your books ready for the next week and get your children to make sure their desks and pencil boxes are ready for Monday. Set up a laundry system in your home to make sure that your family has clean clothing and linens.

Warning #2 – Your children take forever to do their work

Some children are slow workers, but many are dawdlers. If your junior grade children are taking more than a 3 hours to do their work or your high schooler more than 6 hours then chances are that they are wasting time.

Solution – Make sure that you are giving your children short lessons so that dawdling is discouraged. Ensure that you alternate a hard lesson for a easier lesson. Take the time to train your children in the habit of attention so that they learn the importance of giving something their full attention and completing work in a timely fashion.

Warning #3 – Your children spend more time on school work than life

If your children are spending more than a third of their day in formal academic pursuits, it is a sure fire way of producing burnout in mom and child.

Solution – Raymond and Dorothy Moore, grandparents of the homeschooling movement, make use of a head, heart and hand principle. They said that a child’s day should be balanced equally between these three occupations. Head refers to academic pursuits; Hand refers to work in and around the home like chores and entrepreneurial activities and Heart refers to spiritual and moral training a parent should impart.

Warning #4 – Your children are allowed unlimited daily doses of TV and computer

Children should not watch TV or work on the computer everyday. It is an unhealthy situation as the stimulus that the brain receives from these two activities causes a dumbing down process where the child forgets how to entertain themselves, play out imaginary games and be productively and creatively busy – to mention just a few negatives.

Solution – Make a list of all the productive pursuits that your child can do and put to when they nag and ask for TV or their computer games. Ensure that you draw them alongside you in your day to day activities – and set the example yourself!

Warning #5 – Mom does not ensure that she is sufficiently rested

When a mom is tired, burnt out and running from play-dates to sports all afternoon and never takes a moment for a quiet cup of tea and a book, she is bound to be tense and overwrought. When mom has nothing left, she cannot give to her children and be a healing presence in her home.

Solution – Mom needs to set aside small moments in her day to take a breather. This can be a chapter of a good book, a walk around the garden, a cup of tea – on her own. It could also mean getting to bed earlier so that she can rise before her family with a small head start on her day. Mom needs to take time out monthly as well, so that she can set her hand to a craft or hobby where she can take off the “homeschooling mom hat.”

Warning #6 – The homeschooling parents talk of nothing but their children

Does it seem like whenever mom and dad go out or have a moment together, all they talk about is homeschooling and parenting? While there is time for that, it is also very important that they take time to remember that their relationship ranks right up there in importance.

Solution – Make a pact that you will do something special together, weekly or monthly, where you do not talk about homeschooling, parenting or household matters. Just enjoy being together.

Warning #7 – Parents control their children rather than build relationship with their children

This is a tough one… isn’t it? We want the best for our children; we want them to be all they were created to be and to achieve much in their lives. But often a parent will go overboard and forget that the reason they are raising children is so that they can be strong valuable members of a community.

Solution – Like a young sapling tree, protect your children as they need it. Train them in moral and spiritual guidelines as you take hold of those truths as well. As they grow and show maturity in certain areas, permit them to begin making their own decisions within the realm of what is permissible to your boundaries as a family unit.

Warning #8 – A homeschooling mom who spend too much time feeding on other lives

I left this for last because this one point can be the single most damaging thing that can happen to any homeschool. When a mom is always comparing herself and her children to what the next person is doing, what the other children have achieved, the projects that they are doing, instead of getting on and living her life with her children, she is bound to become frustrated and defeated.

Solution – Accept the season that your family is in – perhaps you have just had a baby and an in-depth unit study will sent your teetering over the edge! Perhaps your children have special needs and are not able to concentrate for long. Whatever the reason… accept the season. Also remember that each home and family is unique and your family has a specific flavor to it. When you try and bring in another family’s culture to your own, you dilute the beauty of your family.

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Wendy Young is the homeschooling mom to 4 children aged 7 – 14 years. They have always been at home. She has been married for 19 years. Wendy’s website, Homeschool-Curriculum-For-Life, is dedicated to helping moms choose curriculum, get organized, and enjoy the homeschool journey by equipping them as their roles as wives, women, and moms.

-by Mimi Rothschild

We’re not talking here about homeschool burnout. We’re talking about the homeschool parent who’s happily homeschooling but just, well, tired.

It’s hard to join in with your kids on learning adventures when you’re exhausted. And with babies, kids’ activities, staying up late to get a little couple time after the kids go to bed, and getting up early to fit household chores in before schooling starts, lots of us are sleep deprived.

What can we do about it?

• · Get more sleep. This is the best plan, if it’s possible. And maybe it is. Keep track of how you spend your time for a few days and see whether you really need to stay up as late as you do, or to get up as early as you do. One mom told us that she stays up late to see particular TV programs. With TV and video recorders, not to mention the option of watching many of your favorite shows online, this just isn’t necessary any more. Another mom said she gets up to make coffee for her husband, who’s on an early shift at a factory. Maybe it’s time for her to lovingly suggest to her husband that they get a coffeepot with a timer and let her sleep for another half hour. Most of us need our eight hours of sleep, and it’s worth scheduling those eight hours.
• · Sleep better. For some, it’s not hard to get eight hours in bed, but that doesn’t mean eight hours of sleep. If worry keeps you awake, your best defense is prayer. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety,” says the psalmist in Psalms 4:8. The psalms have a lot to say about worry: remember that you can “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you” Psalms 55:22 . And, if you don’t feel quite that optimistic, there’s always Matthew 6:34: “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” It’s hard to sleep if anxiety or even excitement fills your mind, but prayer, or counting your blessings, can calm you enough to sleep, if you let it.
• · Nap. If you can’t get to bed earlier or stay up later, or your sleep is disturbed by a nursing baby, you may be able to find time during the day for a nap. Research suggests that the best way to take a nap and end up refreshed rather than groggy is to start with a cup of coffee. Odd as that sounds, the caffeine kicks in after ten or fifteen minutes, so subjects in the studies woke up and felt alert. Between 1:00 and 3:00 pm is the best time to take a nap, since that’s the natural low-energy time of the day. Many of us respond to that natural energy dip by having a sugary snack, or a combination of sugar and caffeine, such as a cola drink, or coffee and a candy bar. This can give you an immediate boost, but you’re likely to feel more tired later, as sweets cause a quick rise and fall in blood sugar. Try the caffeine nap instead. A nap longer than 30 minutes can backfire, though, and leave you feeling more tired than before.
• · Eliminate possible health problems. If you get eight hours of sleep, but you still feel tired much of the time, there may be underlying health issues. Anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression can all lead to physical tiredness. Your family doctor can eliminate these possibilities for you – and if it turns out that you are in fact anemic or suffering from another health issue, your doctor can suggests treatments.
• · Take care of yourself. Doctors say that most common fatigue comes not from serious health problems, but from lifestyle issues. Get enough sleep, exercise daily, eat right – enough protein and complex carbs like whole grains and fresh produce, little processed food or high fat and sugar foods – and you’re likely to feel much more energetic. With our busy lives, it’s hard to make taking care of ourselves a priority. This can be particularly true for moms. We have a tendency to take care of everyone else and ignore ourselves, but the gain in energy can make the effort worthwhile.

Finally, write out an encouraging verse to read over in those times when you do feel tired:

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31

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Mimi Rothschild is the Founder of LearningByGrace.org the nation’s leading provider of online PreK-12 online Christian educational programs for homeschoolers.

-by Mimi Rothschild

Are you homeschooling a shy child? Homeschooling can allow a shy child to learn more, since the presence of boisterous, outgoing kids can make the school setting uncomfortable. A shy child in a classroom full of bold children may not speak up when she misunderstands or give an answer when a question is asked. She may be overlooked by teachers or feel isolated from fellow students. In a homeschool setting, a quiet child’s abilities may shine better than in a school setting.

At the same time, it’s natural for parents to feel concerned. Are we limiting our child’s social development by keeping him from being forced to overcome his shyness? Should we cater to that shyness, or do we need to make extra efforts to make our child come out of her shell?

First, we should recognize that shyness is an aspect of a person’s temperament. We may think of a shy child as timid or frightened, as poorly socialized, or lacking in the ability to get along with others. In fact, the child we call shy may merely be an introvert. Some psychologists describe introverted people as those who gain energy from being alone, which is completely different from being timid or afraid of other children.

Separating timidity from introversion can help us to help our children outgrow timidity without failing to appreciate their natural temperament.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” A feeling of love toward others, an awareness of God’s power supporting us, and self-discipline to be brave in new situations can help a timid child.

1 Thessalonians tells us, “And we urge you… encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” We can encourage our shy children when they’re timid, and give them time alone when they need to recharge their emotional batteries.

One surprising help for shy kids is a study of manners. Knowing for certain that we are doing exactly the right thing in a social setting allows us to feel more confident and less self-conscious. We can have that spirit of power, and think about others with love, instead of worrying that we might be using the wrong fork or speaking out of turn.

Enjoy learning about manners in different countries or customs of different times, and practice good manners at the family dinner table. The social graces give confidence, and make your children welcome in all situations.

For some shy children, having more information about a situation ahead of time makes it more comfortable. Saying, “We’re going to go to the library for story time and we’re going to meet Gabriel and his mom there, and then we’ll go to the park to play for a while before we come home” lets your child feel prepared for the interaction, Allowing her to play on the edge of a group of children, to stay with you for a while before joining in a game, or to leave the game when she needs some down time are other ways to help her enjoy play dates.

With understanding, preparation, and encouragement, we can provide a rewarding environment for our shy children.

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Mimi Rothschild is the Founder of LearningByGrace.org the nation’s leading provider of online PreK-12 online Christian educational programs for homeschoolers.

-by Mimi Rothschild

Graphs can make information immediately understandable – but only if you can read them. Reading graphs is an important skill our students need, and making graphs is a great way to get that understanding completely solid. Having students make graphs is also a great way to check and see whether your students have fully understood the information they’ve learned.

What kinds of graphs are most useful?
• Bar graphs show information as bars of varying heights. They can give a very clear picture of how one thing compares with another. The populations of different countries, the heights of plants grown under different conditions, and the prices of different but comparable items are good examples of things that can be shown with bar graphs.

Bar Graph

• Line graphs are best for showing how things change over time. Points are connected with a line which goes up or down across dates, giving a quick impression of increase or decrease. Line graphs are good for showing things like growth of a population over time, changes in the numbers of people playing a particular sport, or rising and falling prices.

Line Graph

• Pie charts or circle graphs show how one thing is divided up. A pie chart lets you see what proportion of deaths in a war were from battle wounds, or what percentage of time in a school day is spent on the computer.

Pie Chart

• Venn diagrams are circles representing different groups of things. One circle is laid over another to show what the two groups have in common and where they differ. A Venn diagram can show, for example, that both Canadians and people in the United States are North Americans, but that Canadians have two national languages and the U.S. has one.

Venn Diagram

Here are some ways to practice making and using graphs:
• Take one set of facts and show it with several different kinds of graphs. Decide which graph does the best job of showing that information. Do this each time you learn new information for a week or two, and see whether your students can make generalizations about what kinds of graphs are best for which purposes.
• Have students find graphs in books, magazines, or online references, and write paragraphs explaining exactly what each graph shows.
• Graph data over a period of time. Weather, growth of the kids in the family, number of books read, or number of miles walked are examples of data sets that work well for graphing. Notice how much easier it is to see the patterns in the information with graphs than with daily notes.
• Try making graphs that compare different sets of information. For example, you could make a graph showing the football scores for a favorite team this season and last season, and then add three more teams for comparison. See whether at some point, as you add information sets, it makes sense to change to another kind of graph.
• Make an art project of a graph. Use icons, collage, or other creative additions to make your graphs visually interesting.

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Mimi Rothschild is the Founder of LearningByGrace.org the nation’s leading provider of online PreK-12 online Christian educational programs for homeschoolers.

-by Mimi Rothschild

One of the concerns homeschoolers hear from other people, often including our extended family members and well-meaning friends from church, is that our children won’t have the opportunities for socialization that kids receive in public schools. This is a sincere concern, and giving it a serious answer can not only reassure our friends and family, but also help to correct misunderstandings about homeschooling.

First, where does this idea come from? Year-round public schooling in America became widespread and powerful in the 1920s, following the passage of compulsory schooling laws in the early years of the 20th century. Before that time, many children still learned at home, or in short spells of schooling with itinerant teachers. Others traveled to private seminaries and preparatory schools. The idea that all children would and should attend public schools came up for two main reasons.

First, the flood of immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century caused people to worry that the UnitedStates would lose its shared language and culture. If immigrant children continued to learn at home, they would speak only the languages of their parents, and not learn English. Second, the rise of factories gave Americans the feeling that an assembly line and the one-size-fits all approach was the most modern and efficient way to do everything, including educating children.

Public schools are still a good way for newly arrived immigrants to learn the language and culture of their new homeland. We’ve learned, on the other hand, that an assembly line approach isn’t necessarily the best way to teach children.

In either case, the idea that our children need schools for socialization is a hangover from those days, a time of different ideas and circumstances from our own. Supposing that your children come from a home where English is spoken. What kind of socialization will they get in a public school?

First, they’ll spend most of their time with others their own age. A homeschool student has the opportunity to watch and learn from adults and older siblings, to help and care for younger children, and to see how people of all ages interact in a natural way. In public schools, children may be almost completely segregated by age.

Second, they’ll spend most of their time in a strongly hierarchical setting. In a school, students in upper grades may feel that they have higher status and more importance than younger ones, and they may show that feeling in their behavior toward the little ones. Teachers may struggle to stay in control of their classes, shouting or threatening to keep the upper hand. Teachers are ruled by the principal, and the principal may bow to the school board. Students are often conscious of this pecking order. At home, the loving family strives to follow the model Christ gave the church. We may not always succeed, but we have a stronger starting point.

Third, they’ll be in a secular, worldly environment. The Apostle Paul gave a wonderful example of how to get along with different kinds of people. God wants us to be able to do that. God’s word doesn’t teach us that it’s essential for us to make sure that our children dress like the current pop stars, memorize the story line from the most popular TV show, or yearn for the latest materialistic fads. Yet this is often the center of social life at school.

Homeschool social groups, Sunday School, art classes, music lessons, and community sports teams all give opportunities for kids to interact with other kids and become comfortable in groups. A few hours a week, along with free play time with siblings and neighbors, is enough of that kind of socialization for our children. Otherwise, learning the excellent lessons the Bible has for us about how to behave toward other people is the best possible socialization.

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Mimi Rothschild is the Founder of LearningByGrace.org the nation’s leading provider of online PreK-12
online Christian educational programs for homeschoolers.