What I Would Do Different – Or Not?

My first baby was born in 1987.  I gave birth to my ninth in 2003.   I have homeschooled from the beginning.  Between baby number one and number nine, I was in for an extreme learning curve on what is really important in homeschooling.  There are things that if I could go on a magic time capsule and return to 1987, I would change.   And there are things I wouldn’t.

My homeschooling experience began with virtually no support, no money, and no curriculum.  Those were the days when the moment you said the word “homeschooling,” you were asked the same two questions.  The first question was, “Is that legal?!?” followed immediately by, “What about socializing?”  If you are a homeschooler, I assume you have laid those two questions to rest.   The question of what to teach and how to teach it are central to every homeschool.   Both of these questions must rest solidly on the foundation of knowing WHY you want to homeschool.

I would not change my reasons for homeschooling.  My primary reason was to share my faith with my children and teach them God’s Word.  My second reason was because I believed I could offer a higher quality education than what is offered in the public school.  Twenty-five years later, those are still the reasons I homeschool.

There are quite a few things I would not change from the years when I had very little funds for materials.  Go to the library – a lot!  Read to your kids while you are there.  Bring home lots of books to read at home.  There are lots of great books at thrift stores, garage sales, library sales, etc.  Take advantage of these and build an enticing library for your children’s minds to feed from every day!  The great outdoors is the greatest classroom your children will ever have.  Walk through the woods with them and question everything.  Bring home lots of keep sakes and critters for your children to study.  Fill your house with bugs in jars, fish in tanks, plants growing and artwork taped to the walls.  Remind them that everything in this world that was created by the Lord God is ours to learn from and love.  Even the scary, icky things are fascinating.  We are to take care of the world God put us in charge of, not fear it.  If you can’t live on a farm of some type, visit other farms as much as you can.  The busy learning environment I attempted to maintain for my children is a vital part of our homeschool that I would not change.

So what would I change?  If I could go back to 1987, I would read aloud even MORE to my children.  I would read more poetry.  I would use audio books every single day during nap times and bed times.  This not only enhances their audio learning mode, but they are also able to learn copious quantities of quality literature and Scripture at a young age just by listening to it.  Too often I would read aloud only if the children would ask.  It can be used just as background while they are playing.  I would fill the rest of their time with a variety of classical music.  Outdoor time would be a daily requirement.  I would keep the T.V. and computer turned OFF except for special occasions.  We would work on memorizing from the day they learn to put two words together.  Not only would I require Scripture memorization, but I would include poems and sayings as well.  I wish so much that I had understood the rote memory stage of children better. 

There are methodologies I would change.  I would use less workbooks.  I would require the use of scissors and fine motor skills more when they are very young.  I would make a general schedule that was to be followed every day.  Don’t get me wrong, schedules in a homeschool with babies and toddlers is very difficult to make and maintain.  But I would definitely give it more of an effort.  I would require more narration.  Every time we told a story, I would require the children to tell it back to me.  I would require daily oral practice of the facts and poems they were to memorize.

I would use cursive from the very beginning and only teach print after they have learned cursive.  I would test more and require writing every day.   I would switch curriculum faster if it wasn’t working for me.  Many homeschoolers are of the opinion to not change their curriculum once they have started.  I disagree.  I have seen these same homeschools collapse from frustration by the parent or the children.  Better to change than to fail.

I would schedule a study time for myself to learn everything I could to help my homeschooling.  There was so much more I could have taught if I had taken the time to study.  Teacher supplements, seminars, etc. are abundant now.  I would have studied Christian parenting regularly.  If children do not obey and respect their parents, then teaching them can be almost impossible.  I would have focused more on the joy and privilege of teaching my children than worrying over the difficulties.

Lastly, I would have taught worldview every day.  It is THE most important subject to teach our children.  After the many years of teaching and loving our children, they are sent out to an environment hostile to Christianity without an understanding of what the world believes.  Very few children can withstand this environment when they have not been taught to defend their own faith or have an understanding of other worldviews.

I cannot wallow in regrets.  I did what I could with what the Lord gave me.  Now I must look to the future and I want to help other homeschoolers as much as I can.  My reasons for all of my choices here cannot be fully explained in one blog.  I would encourage every homeschooling parent to be passionate about their teaching and look to the future.  Make sure your foundation is right and build on it.  Learn all you can and make your children excited to learn.  The rest will follow.