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back to school ideas

Back to school ideas for the Christian home school family – Routine

Posted by Carey 
· Friday, August 17th, 2012 

Back to school ideas for the Christian home school family – Routine

back to school ideas

Stress and “back to school” seem to always go together. It’s even that way for those who home school. I know, we do it too. One of the beauties of schooling your kids at home is that you don’t have to follow somebody else’s schedule or fulfill anyone else’s expectations. That’s wonderful, and one of the things we love about it.

But that doesn’t mean that a “whatever” attitude about your daily school schedule is the best thing. If you want to make Christ the center of your home, you need plan your days so that you can be certain that He is. You should wisely determine your own schedule – one that works best for your family. It can help your family deal with the natural stresses that come with schooling. More importantly, it can help your family THRIVE in the midst of these kinds of pressures.

Basics of a good schedule

As you begin thinking about what your schedule should look like, I’d encourage you to consider these things:

  • A regular rising time each morning. This allows everyone to start the day together, connecting, communicating, and preparing their hearts before the LORD.
  • A regular bed time each evening. Of course this will vary with the ages of your kids, but regularity here will pay huge rewards in terms of productivity and sanity.
  • Have a planned “start time” for your school day instead of just getting to it when you get to it. A regular start time discourages procrastination.

Benefits of a school time schedule

Arranging your school week with a wise, balanced schedule can greatly reduce the stress levels in your home in these ways…

  • It enables you to keep first things first (like Christ being in the center of all you do).
  • Everyone knows what’s expected and what’s going on.
  • There are less surprises to deal with.
  • You are able to ensure that all your students (and parents) are getting adequate rest.

 

Evaluate your “normal” schedule – why has it been the way it has been?

There are all kinds of stated and internal reasons for why we do what we do. Your school schedule is no different. Consider why you have been doing school the way you have?

  • Do you feel pressured to do it a certain way? (Perhaps from the load of books and tapes you got at the last conference?)
  • Are you feeling guilty that your kids are not keeping up with someone else’s kids?
  • Are you feeling an unrealistic pressure to make sure your kids are top of the heap? Why?
  • Are you being intentional about guiding and forming your children’s hearts, or is the intellectual focus wrongly outweighing that priority?
  • Is your schedule the way it is because of deep, God-given conviction?

 

back to school ideas

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Categories : Parenting
Tags : back to school ideas, Christian family, Christian home, Christian marraige, Christian parenting, home school, parenting
Effective Communication

Christian Education: To be a weird home schooler or a sinful public schooler? (and other mistaken notions)

Posted by Carey 
· Friday, July 13th, 2012 

Christian Educaiton

Christian Education for your children

When it comes to making educational choices for our children, we’ve not found any “formula” that works.  I don’t think such a thing even exists.  Our journey in this area has felt very schizophrenic at times.  Our kids have home schooled, gone to public school, gone to charter schools, gone to private Christian schools, AND have even done on-line school.

The only consistent thing about our schooling is that we’ve been inconsistent!

Many Christian parents come up with crazy ideas about what truly constitutes “Christian Education”.

For example…

  • Some are very concerned about their child’s “social adjustment” and fear that if they are home schooled they won’t know how to look people in the eye or carry on a conversation. To them, this option would make their kids become weirdos.
  • Others are overly concerned about the intellectual part of the equation and obsess over academics.  Their child must learn Latin, be schooled in the “classics” and rank in the top 10th percentile on standardized tests.  To do anything less would seem irresponsible to them.
  • Then there are those who fear their kids being exposed to worldly things in those dirty, rotten, terrible, debased public schools.  To them such a choice would be downright sinful.

I believe that ALL of these are mistaken notions.  Don’t misunderstand, education is important and should be taken seriously, but there are more important things than what  their grade point average is at the end of the year, how many friends they have, and how “unstained by the world” they are.

What Matters More? What Matters More?
The development of our children’s hearts.

There are a few, very simple questions that help me sort this out pretty quickly…

  • If my children were the most socially adept, well-liked, and popular kids in their school – but DID NOT have hearts that were passionately seeking to know Christ, what good would I have accomplished for them by making sure they were well socialized?
  • If my children were brainiacs, graduating at the top of their class, acing the ACT test, and getting scholarships galore because of their academic prowess – but DID NOT have a heart that was growing in love for God and love for their neighbor, what value would my careful attention to their intellectual development have?
  • I my kids never knew the names of the latest pop stars or television personalities, had only seen G-rated movies, and had no idea what homosexuality was – but DID NOT have the humility of heart to recognize their desperate need for the grace of God given through Christ, what advantage did I really give them in sheltering them from the “sinful” world?

More than good social skills, excellent academic opportunities, or protection from the world, your children (and mine) need parents who will diligently shepherd their hearts to love the LORD their God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30).  And don’t forget… you have to go first!

 

Christian Education

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