The most-asked question our larger-than-average family gets is this: "How do you handle all those kids AND homeschool?" Well, to be completely honest, we probably get the "How many kids do you plan on having anyway?" one even more often, but you'll have to ask God for the answer to that one. :) I, however, will attempt to explain how we do all that we do with soon-to-be 8 kids, all while keeping the peace and order in our humble abode! So, here we go!

Mark and I have 7 kids (#8 on the way) ages: 16, 8, 7, 6, 3 1/2, 2 1/2, and 8 mos. Below is our usual schedule, but with a baby, toddlers and life in general this can all change at a moments notice. Overall, I like having a schedule so that the kids know what to expect and when, but I do NOT let it rule me. It's just a guide. It helps tremendously that we school year-round! It allows for extended holiday breaks and breaks throughout the year when I feel "burnout" coming. :) I am also a firm believer that just because a schedule works well for one family it might not work well for another, so keep that in mind when trying to create one of your own!

Our Schedule

7:00 - wake-up, make bed, tidy up rooms, put away night clothes and eat

You see them at the grocery, or in a discount store.

It's a big family by today's standards - "just like stair steps," as the
old folks say. Freshly scrubbed boys with neatly trimmed hair and girls
with braids, in clean but unfashionable clothes follow mom through the
store as she fills her no-frills shopping list.

There's no begging for gimcracks, no fretting, and no threats from mom.
The older watch the younger, freeing mom to go peacefully about her task.

You are looking at some of the estimated 2 million children being home
schooled in the U.S., and the number is growing. Their reputation for
academic achievement has caused colleges to begin aggressively
recruiting them. Savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are
conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as
high as $9 billion. When you consider that these families pay taxes to
support public schools, but demand nothing from them, it seems quite a
deal for the public.

Home schooling parents are usually better educated than the norm, and
are more likely to attend worship services. Their motives are many and
varied. Some fear contagion from the anti-clericalism, coarse speech,
suggestive behavior and hedonistic values that characterize secular
schools. Others are concerned for their children's safety. Some want
their children to be challenged beyond the minimal competencies of the
public schools. Concern for a theistic world view largely permeates the
movement.

Indications are that home schooling is working well for the kids, and
the parents are pleased with their choice, but the practice is coming
under increasing suspicion, and even official attack, as in California.

Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?

Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home
schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.

Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an
indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto
Caesar the things that Caesar's be, but they draw the line at their
children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and
effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of
defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.

Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king
upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state's bureaucrats on
these "trouble makers." Their implicit rejection of America's most
venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. "Individualism") spurs us to heat
the furnace and feed the lions.

Young families must make the decision: Will junior go to day care and
day school, or will mom stay home and raise him? The rationalizations
begin. "A family just can't make it on one income." (Our parents did.)
"It just costs so much to raise a child nowadays." (Yeah, if you buy
brand-name clothing, pre-prepared food, join every club and activity,
and spend half the cost of a house on the daughter's wedding, it does.)
And so, the decision is made. We give up the bulk of our waking hours
with our children, as well as the formation of their minds,
philosophies, and attitudes, to strangers. We compensate by getting a
boat to take them to the river, a van to carry them to Little League, a
2,800-square-foot house, an ATV, a zero-turn Cub Cadet, and a fund to
finance a brand-name college education. And most significantly, we claim
"our right" to pursue a career for our own
"self-fulfillment."

Deep down, however, we know that our generation has eaten its seed corn.
We lack the discipline and the vision to deny ourselves in the hope of
something enduring and worthy for our posterity. We are tired from
working extra jobs, and the looming depression threatens our 401k's.
Credit cards are nearly maxed, and it costs a $100 to fuel the Suburban.
Now the kid is raising hell again, demanding the latest Play Station as
his price for doing his school work ... and there goes that modest young
woman in the home-made dress with her four bright-eyed, well-behaved
home-schooled children in tow. Wouldn't you just love to wipe that
serene look right off her smug face?

Is it any wonder we hate her so?

Sonny Scott a community columnist, lives on Sparta Road in Chickasaw
County and his e-mail address is sonnyscott@yahoo.com.

Are you a homeschool parent struggling with getting everything done each day?
You're not alone. Most homeschooling families need an organized schedule to
help keep it all together. Take for instance, the Duggar family from
Springdale, Arkansas. With 17 children, and number 18 expected in January,
2009, this Christian homeschool dad and mom have plenty of wisdom and
practical experience that might give you ideas to improve your homeschooling
routine. Although she's the first to say she's still learning herself,
Michelle Duggar openly shares invaluable insights she's learned along the way
in an exclusive interview with Alpha Omega Publications.

Q: How many of your children are currently homeschooling, and how many hours
of formal education do they typically receive each day?

A: Our three oldest have graduated and completed their homeschooling, so we
now homeschool eleven children (plus our three-year-old Jackson, who likes to
think he's homeschooling, too). We spend approximately four hours a day in
formal schooling in core subjects with additional music lessons.

Q: With such a large family, what time management secrets have you
incorporated into your daily routine to manage the household workload?

A: We've adopted the biblical Titus 2 organizational principles of older
children teaching the younger. Working within an assigned buddy system, each
of our older children assists in helping with the needs of a younger sibling.
Plus, chores are assigned and posted on a master schedule on the wall, so they
all know what to do and work together to complete
their assigned "jurisdictions."

Q: What is your daily homeschooling schedule like, and what method do you use
to track what each child is supposed to be doing?

A: Our day begins at 8:00 a.m. with personal hygiene, breakfast, family
devotions, and a "quick clean" of the house. The younger children begin their
individual lessons in phonics, math, violin, and piano with the assistance of
their "buddy". In teaching their siblings, I find that the older children have
learned so much more themselves. When they're done, the older children then
start their individual studies in math, English, spelling, and typing. One of
the older girls, Jill, begins preparing lunch at 11:30, and we break at 12:00.
Everyone helps clean up and then individual studies are finished. The babies
go down for naps at 1:30 p.m., and then the older children and I study
science, history, law, or medicine around the table from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. As
we study the same topic together, we use a "bus stop" approach. The younger
children participate with age-appropriate activities, but are released to go
play as we go more in depth into the subject matter with the older children.
During this time, we also memorize Scripture, learn hymns, and study godly
character qualities. From 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., we break from our group study and
complete individual studies or enjoy "free time." Dinner is at 5:00 p.m. and
prepared by Jana (18). Everyone again helps clean up afterwards and after
another "quick clean" of the house, each child finishes music lessons or
schoolwork. Snack time is 8:00 p.m., and then it's time to get ready for bed
with baths and picking out clothes for the next day. Bible time with Daddy is
at 9:00 p.m. and bedtime is at 10:00 p.m. Individual checklists which cover
schoolwork, chores, music lessons, and personal hygiene let us see at a glance
how each child is doing and keep our children accountable, so we can reward
them accordingly.

Q: What techniques do you use to handle discipline problems and keep your
homeschooling on track each day?

A: The Duggar House Guidelines:

1. Always use soft words, even when you don't feel well.
2. Always display kind actions, even if you have been mistreated.
3. Show joyful attitudes, even when no one is looking.
4. Have sincere motives with no thought of self-gain.
5. Think pure thoughts.
6. Always give a good report of others. Never tale-bear unless physical
harm will come to someone. Use Matthew 18.
7. Never raise a hand to hit.
8. Never raise a foot to kick.
9. Never raise an object to throw.
10. Never raise a voice to yell.
11. Never raise an eye to scowl.
12. Use one toy/activity at a time.
13. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don't go to bed angry or guilty)
14. Amendment J.O.Y. Make serving your family a priority. Put Jesus first,
Others second, and Yourself last.

Q: How do you incorporate time for each individual child and their interests,
as well as make time for yourself?

A: To give each child one-on-one time, I take one with me each time I need to
run an errand. As soon as we walk out the door, I start to ask how they are
doing, what they are thinking, feeling, and so on. We believe in doing things
together as a family, so we don't run to different activities for each child.
We enjoy music, play baseball with friends, and do other outside activities
together as a family. Since I'm a night owl, I get my alone time with the Lord
when everyone else is asleep, in the "night watches" (Psalms 119:148)

Q: Where do you homeschool, and how do you organize your homeschooling
supplies, educational toys, and each child's daily schoolwork?

A: We have a schoolroom/playroom with lockers and storage bins for each child.
Plus, computer stations are set up throughout the house for individual
learning study with the children who use Switched-On Schoolhouse® curriculum
from Alpha Omega Publications.

Q: How has Switched-On Schoolhouse benefited your family's homeschooling?

A: The information and instructions are presented so well in Switched-On
Schoolhouse (SOS) that the older children can work independently and rarely
need help or have questions. That frees up more of my time and makes teaching
math easier now, too. Plus, the lectures and mini-tutorials provide clear and
concise explanations of the concepts being covered. The children really enjoy
SOS and look forward to doing part of their studies each day on the computer.
My daughter Jessa has taken on the responsibility of administering and
assigning the SOS lessons each day. Her siblings say she is tougher than Mom
when reassigning lessons that haven't been completed properly.

Q: What's the most important organizational advice you would give to a
first-time homeschooling parent?

A: Don't overextend and go easy on yourself. When I first homeschooled, I
tried to set up a conventional classroom, but soon realized that wasn't going
to work. Not everything is going to go as planned, and you're going to keep
learning a better way to do things as time goes on. Most of all, have fun and
just enjoy the gift of your children and the process of learning together.

Source: Alpha Omega Homeschool View - June 2008

1. Establish Child Discipline

This back-to-home-school preparation will be one that will make your sailing go much easier!

Child discipline is not only one of your most important tasks as a parent, but also offers life-long benefits of peace and God's blessings to you and your children. Child discipline is an area where the father's involvement is especially valuable.

God tells parents: "Chasten your son while there is hope" (Prov. 19:18), and "Bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4).

God's word to children is: "Obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother." (Eph 6:1-2)

Parents who do not have their children's respect will have trouble getting their cooperation and obedience. Gaining their respect through proper relationships, discipline, training, and example should be the parents' top priority, whether or not they are home schooling. Home schooling can provide the incentive and optimum setting to accomplish this.

Eight Guidelines

1.  Get your child's attention before giving him an instruction.

2.  Your child should meet your eyes and answer, "Yes, Mother/Father."

3.  Require instant, willing obedience.

4.  Be consistent. Your children must know you mean what you say.

5.  Affirmation should follow obedience; negative consequences are appropriate when a child disobeys or rebels.

6.  Make clear rules and require your child to remember and obey them.

7.  Use Scripture to show your child the principles behind your rules.

8.  Lead your child to salvation. Only after he is born again can God's Spirit within produce true godly character.

2. Set Up Daily Chores

This is another foundational back-to-home-school preparation that will pay dividends by making your home run smoothly during school months.

Each member of the family can and should have responsibilities that make a contribution to the success of the whole family.

We can use chores as double duty -- to keep our homes running efficiently and to teach our children responsibility and life skills.

Assignments

Assign chores. A chore chart on the refrigerator makes sure everyone knows what their duties are, and checking off the jobs that are done provides motivation.

For a simple list of chores, read "Magic Minimum: Cleaning Secret of Organized Families".

"Service Opportunities Chart" from Doorposts will help you simplify chore assignments and teach your children biblical principles of work.

Description

Describe chores. Write out a 3x5 card with the name of the chore, what it entails, check points to tell if the job is completed, the estimated time the job should take, and what supplies to use.

Cleaning Supplies

Consider homemade, nontoxic, and low-cost cleaning products. See recipes at www.OrganizedHome.com).

Also keep supplies close to the job, even if that means two sets of supplies (e.g., for the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms).

Training

Take time to train your children how to do each job to your standards and on time. Have your child watch you do the job as you explain it, then have him do the job while you watch and offer confirmation or correction.

3. Make Legal Arrangements To Homeschool

Avoid potential problems by making the following arrangements.

•   Know your state's law.

•   Contact your state home-school organization to learn how to comply with your state's law.

•   Consider joining Home School Legal Defense Association.

Copyright 2007 The Teaching Home

Homeschooling is certainly a lot more accepted than when I was homeschooled as a child, but I know that some families still deal with the critics of homeschooling. This has to be very frustrating! I hope that this helps some of you who deal with those issues. We are VERY grateful to have everyone in our family wholeheartedly supporting our decision to homeschool!

~ Lisa Metzger

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Home Where They Belong   August 1, 2007   Dear Lisa, Do you have some naysayers in your life? Folks who just always seem to question your homeschool at every turn? I think that's a shame. So many well-intentioned family members, church members, or friends really sabotage the people they love with their negativity. Here's the thing though. Dealing with that criticism can really help grow you out of being a people-pleaser. It can help to remind you to keep your focus on the Audience of One. It's an opportunity for people to see that you can love them unconditionally even in the face of criticism and for your children to see your commitment to follow where God leads you even when others don't understand. So some good can come out of a bad situation. Your confidence will grow over the years and the criticism won't always bother you as much. Don't let them steal your joy. God will affirm your decision to homeschool. Just keep your eyes on Him. Enjoy every minute! THM Editor PS - Want to share your thoughts on this topic? Well this week's Minute to Minute question is from a really discouraged homeschool mom. M2M is our weekly Q & A newsletter that comes out on Saturday that allows readers to help other readers. We've had some great questions and even more wonderful responses. You can subscribe by clicking on the button in the sidebar. :O) PSS - Click here for details on The Tribute to My Dad contest for your child's chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The Schoolhouse Store.

Mercy in the Morning Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor There seems to be in every extended family, someone who saps all your joy and drains all your energy. And that's when you're not even around them! Just the thought of that person makes you sigh with discouragement. I just got a phone message yesterday from that someone trying to place unwarranted guilt on me once again. I began to come up with all the things I would say to that person, but stopped in the middle of my angry thoughts. What should I do? Rather than meditate and fume, I knew I needed to "Do the Word." In Matthew we are told to pray for those who speak all manner of evil against us. That doesn't mean the kind of prayer that says, "I hope you zap them before I blow up on them again!" It's the kind of prayer for their very souls; that God would draw them to Himself; that God would give you wisdom in dealing with them; that God would open their eyes to see Him; that God would soften your heart towards them; that God's Word would reveal to them what your words have failed to reveal to them. What I'm talking about here is a change of focus. Rather than focusing on how much they hurt you, or how much they don't understand you, or how wrong they are, the focus changes to God. How much He loves them, how much value He places on them. He places so much value on them that He died for them as well as you. He desires their change of heart ever more than you could begin to realize. There's a reason we are admonished to "think on those things that are pure and lovely and of a good report." There is a reason we are told to "cast our cares" on Him and to "fix our eyes" on Him. The reason is our freedom - freedom from the discouragement that could so easily swallow us up; freedom to praise God instead of ponder that other person's actions; freedom to pray for those whom no one else may be praying for; freedom to follow God's commands rather than our own emotions. Yes, it's hard. But know this, you are not alone. We are in this together. And as the words of the song so succinctly say, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."* Turning with you, Deborah * Words & Music:Hel­en H. Lem­mel Schoolhouse Spotlight Dena Wood, Schoolhouse Store Manager Personally, I don't spend much time or energy trying to convince or argue with others about our choice to homeschool. I WILL talk with those who express a genuine interest and desire to understand. Usually, the difference is obvious. It has been my experience that the results (both in academics and behavior) speak for themselves.   I have adopted a trick a young lady shared with me.  I don't remember the specific circumstances but someone at our youth camp was sharing an opinion that was way off base. This teen came over to me and whispered the phrase, "smile and nod, smile and nod." It still cracks me up.  Sometimes the best response is to just, "smile and nod." Choose to feel amusement toward the speaker, rather than anger. That said, the ability to express our thoughts, feelings and beliefs clearly and succinctly IS important, especially when faced with an audience willing to listen.  JoJo Tabares of The Art of Eloquence offers a wonderful series aimed at teaching your children these skills. Her Know Your Audience, Say What You Mean, and Defending the Faith products teach your children how to speak with confidence. With programs geared for preschoolers through adult, the whole family can get some practice in effective speaking! "I purchased JoJo's books, Say What You Mean and Know Your Audience for my almost teenage son. I quickly perused the books before giving them to my son. So many of the subjects caught my eye and I ended up reading them myself first!. I found the studies to be very informative, covering all aspects of communication, not just the spoken word. They were written in a style that would appeal to pre-teens , teenagers and adults. My son read both books and told me he "enjoyed" them (his word) and learned some things he has already put into practice with his education.. I highly recommend JoJo's work and will be purchasing the new books when they are published." -Carla It's Just Common Sense Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist Family members are negative? I say don't waste too much energy trying to convince them now. Let time and your results work. At a family gathering one of these negative members said to the homeschool mom, "Your daughter is the only one who stays around to help clean the kitchen while everyone else runs off to play." Even then the mom was careful not to give an I-told-you-so response. She let the results work and omitted the arguments. Showing off academic results is easier than you think, because few people know how to judge academic progress. The whole world seems to think that spelling is the benchmark, so be sure your children's letters to relatives have perfect spelling. Children need some writing projects, anyway, to correct and recopy until it's right, and this will motivate them to do that. Also, if the handwriting is neat that impresses people. Neat handwriting requires two features: 1) proper letter forms, and 2)uniform height and slant. Letter forms are easy. Just have a letter chart the children can refer to as long as they need to. Most children can achieve good uniformity with a crash course in about two weeks. Use exaggerated rhythm, with strong downstrokes. (See more details in You Can Teach Your Child Successfully, pages 128-132.) You probably do not see spelling and handwriting as the most important parts of your education, but many people judge by those visible signs. A child can now and then share a good paper or project with a visitor, but don't overdo this and look pushy. In time your results will convince the family. -Ruth The Familyman Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries Dealing with negative family members is kind of a given when you homeschool. I mean who doesn't have an "Aunt Nelly" who at every Christmas gathering asks, "So how much longer are you going to homeschool? You certainly aren't going to do it in High school, are you?" Now you could pray that God would take Aunt Nellie 'home' before your kids get to the high school years, fake a cold and miss the next 20 Christmases, or wear dark glasses and a fake mustache and hope she doesn't recognize you, but that would be too easy. Instead, you need to take the "Aunt Nellie by the horns" and stand firm in the convictions you hold. Now, I need to direct my next comments to the dads out there. (I'm sure "the girls" will have plenty of good advice for you moms). So Dad, this is one issue where you need to stand up and be your wife's knight in shining armor. When those challenges and questions arise from family members, you must step up to the plate and allow your wife to hide behind you. You need to be the one delivering the answers (if possible). For example, you might need to say, "Yes, Aunt Nellie, we are still homeschooling and we'll keep doing it until we feel like it's no longer the best option for our family." You may even need to pull your aunt, parents, or in-laws aside and say, "When you say those things, you really discourage my wife. I know you don't mean to, but you need to stop."  That, my fellow Dad, is how you deal with negative family members. Be Real, Todd Homeschool Freebies Julie Nott, TOS Marketing Manager Julie's off this week dealing with critics. Nah, she's just taking a little time off. She'll be back with us next week. :O) Meet Some of Our Friends Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine today and receive a special home schooling rate.  Receive 7 issues for the price of 6 - subscribe today for $27.52, $36.00 Canada (USD) and receive seven full bi-monthly issues for the price of six.   Call 1-866-821-2971  704-821-2971   (Canada) or visit us on the web at www.sportsspectrum.com  and mention this special code SCHOOL.  Sports Spectrum is a great family publication that features Christians who happen to be some of the world's top athletes!  Find out what the buzz is about - call today. Too busy to plan healthy meals?  Let us do the planning and shopping list for you!  We use only whole and traditional foods, without packaged or processed items.  Come look at our weekly menu mailer, including a free preview week!  Special 10% discount for The Homeschool Minute readers. www.cookingTF.com/menumailer.htm

Part 1 Why should we prevent burnout?

By Wendy Roberts

As the days get shorter and colder I find it interesting that most homeschool groups I a