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Homschooling is Life ~ Homeschooling with the Necessary Tools!

2:09 AM, May. 11, 2006

There is a very interesting contest going on this week over at Janne's place. She asked what our favorite/treasured tools are which we use in our homeschooling endeavor. Her list was awesome! Several on the list were very similar to the physical tools I utilize to help my kids grow and learn according to their needs, potential and personal interests.

I started really thinking about it this week, that is; what is really necessary for me to have, in order to do what I want to do, and teach what is right, appropriate and more importantly, what God desires for my children to know?

I had a huge stack of curriculum that was given to me personally over the last few years, and another huge pile donated to our group library. I have given boxes of it away. Not to say I am some great philanthropist, but that it goes to people who want it, and that I am trying to be a good steward. But there is more to good stewardship than that: it is not letting things use you, but using what you need and getting rid of the dross.

Psalm 23 says "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want." I have brought this up before. There is another translation, or paraphrase that says this: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need."

Sometimes it is hard for us to take that at face value! We spend so much time running around seeking things we think we need, when we just need to seek God. He promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ. That doesn't mean He gives us everything we want. BUT I can give you countless testimonies of how God has blessed and answered our prayers for the desires of our hearts, not only the basic needs we have.

So, yes there are "things" out there that are fun and fabulous tools to use in our homes! It is hard not to want them. And personally, I could list several. But let me do some thinking here about which tools I have, and those I think are important for me to use every day!

I am going to list Physical Tools, Relational Tools, Practical Tools, Emotional Tools, and Spiritual Tools that I use and you might find that they fit your needs too!

Physical tools:

Books! My all time favorite and most important: God's Word. Next comes His creation! The heavens do declare His glory and the firmament His handiwork. Studying creation is hands on, eye's on and gives our children and ourselves a custom made-for-them lesson, every day! Next, Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary and a few other modern versions, plus dictionary.com! Another super tool for us is English from the Roots up. This is a resource that is one of the greatest tools I have ever found for helping keeps "figure" out the meanings of words! It helps put the puzzle together and can be used with even the youngest of kids. Other physical tools include lots of paper, pencils, and of course, my computer.

Relational tools: My voice. I use my voice to speak to my kids, to talk to other mom's on the phone (crying, praying and laughing together, lifting each other up and making plans to do activities with our kids) and blogging blesses me also! Other relational tools I use are books by my favorite homeschool trailblazers: Dr. and Mrs. Moore, (Better Late Than Early!) Chris and Ellyn Davis (I Saw the Angel in the Marble), Mary Hood, (The Relaxed Homeschool) and many other's who are there helping us to see that we can do this! We don't have to send them off to institutional school. This is the right thing for us, and WE CAN DO IT! These 'relational tools' help us to trust our own hearts, because these people have spoken to us, and it made sense!

Practical tools. It isn't all about academics, at least in the early years. How about basic things we use every day around the house to teach? Relationships teach. Life skills are paramount! Home maintenance teaches. Crisis management is a great teaching tool! Our words and reactions to everyday occurrences, teach volumes. Care and nurturing of our offspring teach. Empathy and Patience teaches. Coarse words and impatience also teaches. Kids are born to learn. I think you get my point.

Emotional tools. Some of my practical tools just spilled over to my emotional tools. The Fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22) will teach more to your kids than any textbook or curriculum in the world. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self Control. These are not just the tools we use to teach, they are the objectives we have for building our children's character. We can try to teach them apart from the Lord---but He is the giver of these gifts. We can strive for them, but it will be futile.

Spiritual tools. Now I guess emotional tools just spilled over into this one also! It is hard to separate what we use, isn't it? They are all ingredients that work together for the outcome we desire. But I want to add one last tool here that may be the most important, or at least to me, is coupled with the most important tool I use. Prayer and fellowship with the Lord. We must pray and get ourselves aligned with God. We must ask for His help daily. We must lift up our children, and our friends and fellow homeschoolers everywhere. We must pray for strength and for wisdom. We need discernment, perseverance, protection and guidance each for each day.

So there you have it! This was a good exercise in thinking about what is important to me, and how I can work to get rid of the things that trip me up, and are un-necessary. There are many products and much "equipment" that can make our lives easier, and make it fun and productive. (I am trying not to covet that laser printer Janne! And a better digital camera and a laptop and.......LOL) But let's get back to the basics, and I don't mean the three R's!

Homeschooling is Life!

Nancy

Nancy Baetz is an unschooling mom of four who is getting the best education she ever had just by loving her family and learning together.

www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/ByHisGraceinColorado

Posted in hsingislife, 6 comments, Link
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Untitled Comment

3:04 PM, May. 11, 2006, posted by TOSPUBLISHER

Very cool post, Nancy. And you are an unschooler? I didn't know that. No wonder your daughter was so BRAINY sounding when I met her last week. She seems more like 18 than 14. Loved the yarn spinning demo!

-gena

Curriculum for Life!

4:07 PM, May. 11, 2006, posted by JillNovak

Dear Nancy,
You’ve said it so well. How important it is for us to “voice” our heart convictions to our children, whether verbally or through written means (letters, journaling, blogging, etc). I think the greatest benefit of homeschooling is developing and maintaining lifelong relationships with our children. This will only happen if we make our children’s hearts the focus of our homeschool day. We have so much to learn from them.
When I was doing final research for The Gift of Family Writing, I had to read The Blessing by John Trent and Gary Smalley again (I haven’t picked that book up for years). The Hebrew word for blessing literally means to bow the knee. The authors explain the five stages for giving an Old Testament blessing. They are: meaningful touch, a spoken (or written) message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and becoming a student of each child.
What an awesome privilege we have – giving our children a blessing everyday, and working with the Lord to develop the gifting He has put into each child. As far as I am concerned, the basics will always include a warm hug, a listening ear, and a teachable spirit – “standard operating equipment” for parents who want to homeschool successfully.

Untitled Comment

5:58 PM, May. 11, 2006, posted by jacobsacademy

The Homeschooler's tool belt............sounds like something growing right out of your excellent article.......

AMEN!!

Harriette Jacobs

Man, you gals are too nice :)

10:05 PM, May. 11, 2006, posted by ByHisGraceInColorado

It's just a learning experience every day, and you know, we make a lot of mistakes too. But I have said it before, they are my mistakes to make. It's mine (and my husbands) responsibility and priveledge to make them!

Thanks for the great comments. I am always learning, and always revising my means, methods, tools and ideas. That's a big part of un-schooling. We may get some wonderful ideas from others, and then manipulate those ideas and see if they will work for our needs and circumstances. In the process, hopefully, illuminate it all with God's Word and see if it becomes clear!

If not, back to the drawing board!

Blessings!
Nancy

Nancy's Tool Time...

10:11 PM, May. 11, 2006, posted by julie

If I was a male i.e. Tim Allen's Tool Time Show...I guess I'd be making that "uugarrrggggg" noise right about now, huh?

Thanks for the wonderful reminders of the essentials in homeschooling!

Blessings,

Julie

Excellent thoughts

4:55 PM, May. 12, 2006, posted by ejoyce,ink

This was so helpful, Nancy. Thank you for the "focus adjustment". Your children are richly blessed to have you for a mom. Happy Mother's Day!
In His Peace,
Eleanor

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