Comments on: Where Should I Send My Kids To School? http://unbridledsubmission.com/2010/03/where-should-i-send-my-kids-to-school/ The blog of Darren Herbold Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:27:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Julia http://unbridledsubmission.com/2010/03/where-should-i-send-my-kids-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-469 Julia Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:57:42 +0000 http://unbridledsubmission.com/?p=407#comment-469 Yes, parenting is a big deal. I think sometimes we go into it thinking that it is more like a hobby when it is actually a career. All your best resources and most brilliant ideas must be poured into and reflect out of those little people we bring into the world. Homeschooling: I was adamant that I would not join my friends in this pursuit believing that I was not made for such a thing. God had a different idea as he slowly wooed me into it. I too had no issue with the school system but as grade one came sneaking up and my Kailey was still so 'little', the thought of having her enter the 'rat race' so early in life seemed unnecessary. We spend our whole lives getting up early and running to a schedule made by society and eventually ingrained in us so much that when we have the choice, it is one of our own making. My decision was made. I decided to homeschool Kailey, and Justin joined in as a 3-year-old. They were not always willing cooperative students, but retrospectively that had more to do with my approach then their interest in learning. God had a few things to teach me through this process. Homeschooling is not about taking the 'school system' and replicating it in the home. As big of a deal as the official grade one can feel, the fact is, it's only grade one. Our kids learn when they are in stimulating environments. Places that inspire them to dig in and discover. My main goal was to focus on reading, hand writing, basic math, and matters of the God-heart. Some kids aren't so much into learning to read but love being read to. We did lots of reading to. It was what I loved most and so did the kids. Michael was the best reader, except when he would fall asleep mid-sentence and the kids would jossel him awake....DAAAAAD! Today they both love reading even though there were times I thought we would be reading to them forever. 12 years old and still reading to... but we took turns. In reading to your kids, they develop an interest in more advanced books which naturally makes for more challenging reading. The biggest thing I learned too late: 1. You can't do it all. Even when at first you feel you can be super woman; volunteer work, children's ministry, paid work, etc.... Homeschool needs to be a full time job. Anything added to it like ministry stuff is best done as something with your kids so it becomes part of their learning experience. 2. Replenish yourself: Your own bible study with other women, getting out just for fun without the kids, date time with hubby, quiet time on your own. Not just once a year. Pick something once per week. 3. Join a learning coop. With a couple other families that fit your values and compliment your children. You can take turns teaching certain subject areas. An ideal group balances out the gifts that each parent can offer the Coop. 4. Pic your mentors carefully, that way you will receive Godly counsel and not be overwhelmed by the many opinions of how to raise/school your kids, even within the home school culture. (and here I am giving you a litany of info). 5. Careful not to over program. (this was one thing I was good at). 6. As parents you need to be on the same page. Share some teaching responsibilities. 7. Pay someone to clean your house. That could mean teaching a teen what you would like done. We pay them to take care of our kids, surely we can pay them to clean our house. I.e., wash floors, vacuum, clean bathrooms, organize the play room,dishes..have them do the thing you least like to do. I was always recommended to do this but never did. Somehow it seemed like a bigger deal to train a teen and yet I would tell you to go for it. 8. Be more concerned with the heart condition of your kids, learning who they are, letting God reveal to you who they are and how to feed them in their learning, then meeting all the 'Learning Outcomes'. Kids develop at different rates which we all know but sometimes get lost in the demands of the system. I pray for continued wisdom as you parent your precious gifts and that you will see clearly what God has for them. As you honor Him with your lives, He will cover you. I know without a doubt that there is no way you can make a wrong decision when your heart is to serve Jesus. Even though there were many difficult times during the various years I have home schooled, by God's grace (cloaking device) the kids don't remember the difficult times, only the unique opportunities they had as home schoolers. Now in grade nine and eleven, they are not hurting educationally but are thriving academically. Thanks to God again. You are having a first successful year....a great foundation for any direction. Love to you both. J ps: you probably weren't expecting an essay..... Yes, parenting is a big deal. I think sometimes we go into it thinking that it is more like a hobby when it is actually a career. All your best resources and most brilliant ideas must be poured into and reflect out of those little people we bring into the world.

Homeschooling: I was adamant that I would not join my friends in this pursuit believing that I was not made for such a thing. God had a different idea as he slowly wooed me into it. I too had no issue with the school system but as grade one came sneaking up and my Kailey was still so 'little', the thought of having her enter the 'rat race' so early in life seemed unnecessary. We spend our whole lives getting up early and running to a schedule made by society and eventually ingrained in us so much that when we have the choice, it is one of our own making. My decision was made.

I decided to homeschool Kailey, and Justin joined in as a 3-year-old.
They were not always willing cooperative students, but retrospectively that had more to do with my approach then their interest in learning. God had a few things to teach me through this process. Homeschooling is not about taking the 'school system' and replicating it in the home. As big of a deal as the official grade one can feel, the fact is, it's only grade one. Our kids learn when they are in stimulating environments. Places that inspire them to dig in and discover. My main goal was to focus on reading, hand writing, basic math, and matters of the God-heart. Some kids aren't so much into learning to read but love being read to. We did lots of reading to. It was what I loved most and so did the kids. Michael was the best reader, except when he would fall asleep mid-sentence and the kids would jossel him awake….DAAAAAD! Today they both love reading even though there were times I thought we would be reading to them forever. 12 years old and still reading to… but we took turns. In reading to your kids, they develop an interest in more advanced books which naturally makes for more challenging reading.

The biggest thing I learned too late:

1. You can't do it all. Even when at first you feel you can be super woman; volunteer work, children's ministry, paid work, etc…. Homeschool needs to be a full time job. Anything added to it like ministry stuff is best done as something with your kids so it becomes part of their learning experience.
2. Replenish yourself: Your own bible study with other women, getting out just for fun without the kids, date time with hubby, quiet time on your own. Not just once a year. Pick something once per week.
3. Join a learning coop. With a couple other families that fit your values and compliment your children. You can take turns teaching certain subject areas. An ideal group balances out the gifts that each parent can offer the Coop.
4. Pic your mentors carefully, that way you will receive Godly counsel and not be overwhelmed by the many opinions of how to raise/school your kids, even within the home school culture. (and here I am giving you a litany of info).
5. Careful not to over program. (this was one thing I was good at).
6. As parents you need to be on the same page. Share some teaching responsibilities.
7. Pay someone to clean your house. That could mean teaching a teen what you would like done. We pay them to take care of our kids, surely we can pay them to clean our house. I.e., wash floors, vacuum, clean bathrooms, organize the play room,dishes..have them do the thing you least like to do.
I was always recommended to do this but never did. Somehow it seemed like a bigger deal to train a teen and yet I would tell you to go for it.
8. Be more concerned with the heart condition of your kids, learning who they are, letting God reveal to you who they are and how to feed them in their learning, then meeting all the 'Learning Outcomes'. Kids develop at different rates which we all know but sometimes get lost in the demands of the system.

I pray for continued wisdom as you parent your precious gifts and that you will see clearly what God has for them. As you honor Him with your lives, He will cover you. I know without a doubt that there is no way you can make a wrong decision when your heart is to serve Jesus.

Even though there were many difficult times during the various years I have home schooled, by God's grace (cloaking device) the kids don't remember the difficult times, only the unique opportunities they had as home schoolers. Now in grade nine and eleven, they are not hurting educationally but are thriving academically. Thanks to God again. You are having a first successful year….a great foundation for any direction.

Love to you both. J
ps: you probably weren't expecting an essay…..

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