Are you thinking about homeschooling? Here are some negatives and positives of homeschooling:
The negatives include:
1. Homeschooling doesn't mean your children will ace every course, have no problems, get into an elite college on scholarship, obtain a high-paying job, get married and have their life turn out perfect.
2. Homeschooling is a lot of work and takes most of your free time.
3. You will endure a lot of pressure from the world, your family, AND yourself that, by homeschooling, you are "ruining" your children. It can be real frustrating to spend time preparing lessons and getting equipment together only to have a "bad" day or a child who doesn't seem like he is learning. Every homeschool mom will tell you there will be days (or even weeks at a time) when you will feel like nothing is going right and you should just put them back in school.
4. Even though you can homeschool cheaper than sending them to private school, it still costs money to provide an excellent education at home. You WILL have to sacrifice in other areas of the family budget in order to have the money you need to homeschool.
5. You kids will most likely go through periods of time, both during their homeschool life and after, when they wish they were not homeschooled. You (the parents) must be the one who makes the decision and sticks with it.
If you let God take control, do the best you can and forgive yourself on the days you don't, the positives include:
1. Your child will receive a better education in the areas that are most important to him. By homeschooling, you are able to focus your child's education on courses & activities that will help him do what the Lord has called him to do, instead of doing what everyone else is doing. This will better prepare him for his particular career or ministry.
2. Your child will learn to think for himself and be self-educating. This will help him throughout his adult life. Even though he won't learn "everything he needs to know," by the time he graduates, he WILL know how to find the answers for himself.
3. You can arrange your school day around your spouse's schedule so that everyone has quality time together, creating special family memories that your child will never forget. Even if he becomes a prodigal son, he will think back on these times and remember what life is like in a loving and caring Christian home. Eventually, he will tire of the "world outside" and will come home.
4. The character traits and behaviors that you have personally WILL show up in your children. As these manifest, the Lord uses them to let you see how you look to others. As you are training your child, the Lord will also be training you. It will make YOU a better person!
5. You child will eventually tell you that they were glad that you homeschooled them for a variety of reasons. My daughter says it kept her out of "worse" trouble; my son says it enables him to get a high-paying job without college. The reasons will change as the mature and have families of their own.
5. When you are all done homeschooling, you will know that you have done what God called you to do and the Word says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (NIV, James 1:12)
I now have a Twitter feed and Facebook page for homeschooling. If you're interested, follow the links.
I've finished the course. I've run the race and now, after 2-1/2 years, I've graduated!
Now, I can get back to my real life! I'm happy to be back on Homeschool Blogger and look forward to interacting with everyone again.
Welcome to Freebie Friday!
A week from today is Christmas! This time of year, as we turn our thoughts towards the birth of Christ, is the perfect time to share the BEST freebie of all with kids! The free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ!
Romans 6:23 tells us:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And in John 3:16 we learn:
For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
and Acts 16:31 tells us
. . . Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . .
It is all so simple, and it's FREE! Click here to find freebies that will help you share with children how Jesus died for our sins and offers us eternal life as a free gift.
It's the BEST freebie of all!
I will see you next year!
Happy homeschooling,
Jamin
I posted this 2 years ago on my blog. I still love it , so I thought I would share it again. I don't dislike Santa...but Jesus is the real reason for the season! Only 1 more week until Christmas!
Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus
By Rev. James Spellman of Ohio
*Santa lives at the North Pole... JESUS is everywhere.
*Santa rides in a sleigh... JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
*Santa comes but once a year... JESUS is an ever present help.
*Santa fills your stockings with goodies... JESUS supplies all your needs.
*You have to wait in line to see Santa... JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
*Santa lets you sit on his lap... JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
*Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"... JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our head.
*Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly... JESUS has a heart full of love.
*All Santa can offer is HO HO HO... JESUS offers health, help and hope.
*Santa says "You better not cry"... JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."
*Santa's little helpers make toys... JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
*Santa may make you chuckle but...JESUS gives you a joy that is your strength.
*While Santa puts gifts under your tree... JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
Its obvious there is really no comparison! Jesus is still the reason for the season. Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus.
I found this poem over at the 1+1+1=1 blog. It is part of a lovely FREE Christmas Symbols lapbook she has put together! I just LOVE the poem! It completely speaks to how I feel about Christmas in my heart!
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
More abusive teachers are in the news, this time two teachers tortured and abused several special needs children in their care--children who couldn't speak out about what was happening to them.
Parents, even your special needs children deserve to be at home where it is safe, and where you can be there to protect them. Homeschooling special needs children can be done!
Check out these resources to start:
- E-Book: Teaching Jeremiah--a complete curriculum for teaching special needs children in preschool and early elementary grades.
- E-Book: Someplace Called Special--A Look at Homeschooling Special Needs Children
- Special Words for Special Needs--Blog posts by a mom homeschooling several special needs children.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB
World Net Daily reports that just may become the case for British parents who wish to homeschool their children. The law stems, in part, to a problem that some parents are using homeschooling as a way to disguise abuse. However, what the law doesn't stipulate is what is required to pass a background check, it invades the rights and privacy of parents, and presumes them guilty until proven innocent.
As I've said before, there are already laws in place--in both Britain and the U.S.--in regards to child abuse. Government agencies are refusing to back those laws up. While there are several homeschool parents in Britain who are in agreement with making tighter restrictions on themselves in order to get rid of the few who give them a bad name, they need to recognize that this bill isn't really about protecting them. It's about a government trying to find ways to slow homeschooling down--period. Find out which parties and agencies are backing this bill and I think you'll find they aren't, and never have been, friendly to homeschooling.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB
Our family LOVES Christmas. What a more glorious way to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We have several traditions that we've started some newer, some later, but we very much enjoy them all. We started having Advent devotionals several years ago and we buy Christmas ornaments from our vacation spot for the year...I know many of you have similar traditions. The two traditions I want to share a couple that you may never have thought of before.
Several years ago Shane was laid off at Christmas. It was only by God's grace that we paid our bills, and in addition, we even paid off some debt. God is SO good! But we started a tradition that year that has remained. We make home made gifts that we share on Christmas Eve. The materials need to cost around $5.00. We've had everything from tissue paper art (when the children were younger) to an "imperfect" plaque I made one year of that year's family theme verse. The year Sweet Cheeks came home, her home made gift was a name plaque with the attributes we thought fit her. As the years pass, we have to help the younger ones less and less and the gifts are more and more creative.
The tradition that is fast becoming a favorite is our gift-giving tradition. Last year Desiring God (John Piper's ministry) offered a small paperback book that could be purchased by the case for $1 a book + shipping ONLY if they were given away. We bought 2 cases and wrapped each book in Christmas paper with a "Merry Christmas from our family" note. We gave them away to friends, family and to the people we met while shopping... the store clerks, the barista, whomever we met. It was SO MUCH FUN! We have continued the tradition this year. In addition to Piper's book, we've added some children's books we found on clearance at Answers in Genesis.
We've had people look in amazment at us, clerks have asked "for .... me?" yes! for you. Merry Christmas! We've had people jump up and down and say "I got a present" giving gifts to others helps us get the focus off of us, and almost always brings a smiler to the receiver. Giving books to those that we regularly see has helped us make friends with them. And, most importantly, we've planted a seed about Christ. What God does with that seed is up to him.
May your Christmas traditions glorify Christ and May you be blessed all year long!
From our family to yours!
My little man turned 6 yesterday! WOW! Time flies. Here are a few pictures from his party at Chuck E. Cheese!
Our family + 1. :^)
The guests...
The cake!
The gifts...
The collapse on the way home!
:^)
It was a great day! We started the day with gifts. Then we took him out to brunch. In the afternoon his best friend came over to play. We had the party at dinner time. We never even got to do his birthday treasure hunt because we ran out of time. So he will be really surprised to get to do that today!
I can't believe he is 6! Time goes waaaaayyyyy too fast!
Happy, happy birthday little man! I LOVE YOU!
Mommy
Just to let you know... I will be giving the latest updates on our new facebook group... so feel free to join and hear the latest on when the newest addition (who WAS due the 13th) will FINALLY decide to enter the world! :)
Click on the following link: THE VERLENNICH BABY'S COMIN'!
