Homeschooling is not a one-time decision you make; it’s a lifestyle that can last for years. And, as the name implies, it works best from home! Here are a few tips on prioritizing homeschooling at home. This is part five of my Top Ten Tips for Homeschooling series. Find links to the other tips below.
Homeschooling at “Home”
1) For the sake of camaraderie, choose a school name and a school motto. Our school was “Wimberly Hills Homeschool”, named for the town where my husband and I spent our honeymoon. Our school motto was Proverbs 1:7, which reads, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
2) Depending on student’s ages, set aside 2-4 hours a day to be home (instead of in the car) at least 3-4 days a week. Like budget cuts, this is hard and requires a commitment to your calling.
3) With a commitment in mind, don’t answer the phone or text during school hours. Consider yourself “at work” and not available to friends and family. Unless it’s an emergency, they can wait. Your children need your undivided attention for the time you’ve set aside to be their teacher.
4) To prioritize learning at home, limit outside co-ops and clubs. There are plenty of good ones out there, but don’t let the good crowd out the best by rushing off to one too many extracurricular activities. This is hard because our society highly values “rugged individualism” and promotes over achievement. Be aware of this trap and choose wisely what you join.
5) Last, the hours you spend at home on reading, writing, and arithmetic are accomplishing far more than what meets the eye. These bonus hours with your children are providing opportunities to shape the heart, soul, and moral fiber of your kids. So, stay home to “home” school and utilize the time to it’s fullest.
Top Ten Tips for Homeschooling Series