How to Pick Your Homeschool Philosophy/Curriculum/Approach/aagh!!!!!

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In a facebook group, one mom was wanting to go for full-on homeschool, and asked about what benchmarks or tests homeschoolers need to aim for. Homeschooling is so open-ended, and none of us want to skip something vital!

As I chimed in with the other moms, it made me remember how we’ve approached homeschool in our family, on a kind of global level, and I thought our approach was worth sharing. If you’re new to homeschooling and overwhelmed by all of the choices, here’s how I managed to sort through it all and figure out what to do for my family; it’s the best recommendation I could give you!

If you can, cancel everything for a day or two and spend some serious time with pen and paper thinking about what your goals are for your homeschool, for your child.

IMO, start by throwing everything “conventional wisdom” says about education out the door. Think outside of the box. Think: What is the ONE thing I want for my child? If I can’t prepare him in any other way, what is the one thing I want for him more than anything else? Add some other goals to your list, too; write down everything you hope for him, but then prioritize them; give them all numbers.

Oh, and it probably goes without saying, but cover this in prayer and ask God to give you wisdom for your child! Look to the scriptures for insight.

Alright, when you have a good idea about what you want your overall goals to be, work backward from there in planning your homeschool. A very rough outline will be more than adequate, for the older years, but still think through the rough picture of those older years, so you’ll know what you want to be doing in the next few years to get there.

Finally, knowing where you’re headed, plan what you want to teach him this year!

Plan a Saturday, or ask your husband to take a day off, every year, to reshape your plans as you learn and grow, and as you see your child growing.

Also, in all of this, share what you’re thinking, what you think is the right direction, with your husband and ask for his thoughts and whether or not he approves. God made your husband the head of your family, so do all of this under his authority, listening to his guidance (and, yes, if he will listen, share your thoughts with him; you are his help!!).

God answers our prayers for wisdom, and blesses our efforts to raise our children well!!!!!

FWIW, I would not let myself be guided by any of the benchmarks and tests set up under the modern education paradigm. 🙂

In my opinion, that is the best advice for any homeschooling mom, no matter how far along we are! Just get some time all alone where you can focus for a few hours, and prayerfully use pen and paper to organize your thoughts and plan out your own priorities for your own family.

Then, once you have your goals and your vision in mind, choose a curriculum that helps you get there.

God gave your children to you! He will give you wisdom to raise them wonderfully, as you seek him and pursue sanctification! Trust that God has given you an adequate mind, and all of the resources you need (including the knowledge and ability to gather more resources to yourself, of course!). Don’t trust yourself; trust God. He has judged you fit to raise your children.

And my God shall fulfill all your necessities through his riches with glory in Jesus Christ. (Phil. 4: 19)

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, which giveth to all men liberally, and reproacheth no man, and it shall be given him. (Jas. 1:5)

Thanks for stopping by; please keep us in prayer!

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How to Pick Your Homeschool Philosophy/Curriculum/Approach/aagh!!!!!

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