Strategies to Start School

Just a few more ideas about starting school. When I looked through a copy of The Old Schoolhouse this past weekend, I found an article by Christine Field, the Harried Homeschooler. I'd like to recap a few strategies she made about starting school.

1. Do you know why you do what you do? (I wrote an article about this a few years ago and it took awhile to find it - will post it later) As the old saying goes, if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you! This is true for homeschooling our children. Be sure your vision for your homeschool will take you through the lows of homescholing, those days you want to quit.
2. Stay solid in God's Word. It's the only thing that will see you through those lows. Besides, your children will become what you are. If you are solid in God's Word, then your children will grow up to spend time daily and faithfully with God. As you mature in the Lord, you will be able to share your growth and wisdom with your own kids.
3. Know your kids and yourself. What I mean by this is know what type of homeschool is best for you and your children. You ARE the expert on your family and your kids. You know what works best in your homeschool. What works for your neighbor or friend across the nation may not be best for you. This is a topic dear to my heart as I have given many seminars on Approaches to Homeschooling. After I saw the need, I turned my workshop into a book so homeschool moms would have a reference throughout the year. Check it out: Approaches to Homeschooling.
4. Get a grip on your routines. Routines are not meant to stifle creativity, but to encourage it. If your kids know what to expect each day, they can sometimes work on their own to finish their assignments. When you finish reading to your kids and know what you will fix for dinner, you can spend the afternoon WITH your kids, enjoying their company. For me, the start of this new year brings us back to a schedule where we can accomplish more and have more free time with each other.
5. Take a stand against clutter. I spent the last two weekends cleaning out my school desk and boxes from our move this summer. The more "stuff" I get rid of, the less "stuff" I have to manage. Find a place for EVERYTHING. I don't know about you, but I sometimes freak when I walk into our living room and piles of paper, yarn, markers, shoes, dirty socks, boooks and whatever else are all over the place. We don't have toys anymore, but somehow we still have a mess by the end of the day. Train your kids to help you take a stand against clutter. Put things away when you are finished using them.
6. Stay home more! This was a great idea from Christine. I know of stay at home moms that spend less time at home than full-time working moms. They are always at a volunteer activity or meeting friends. You might not have time to volunteer, but you might be away from your home as much. Opportunities abound and we can spend so much time in co-ops, music lessons, art lessons, sporting activities, park time and so on that we are not home. (for more on this subject, see "Busy-Ness") A family that runs all the time is fragmented. A family that can rest together and enjoy quiet times is a close family.

It sounds so simple. The enticing temptations of our culture make it so hard to do. But we will only know peace when our goals and our vision are solid. Purpose in your heart to make this a simply blessed year of homeschooling for you and your family.
notes & excerpts from The Old Schoolhouse, Fall 2002

Kerry