Homeschooling From the Heart

Homeschooling from the Heart (of God’s Word)

I believe the only mistake we can make as homeschooling moms is to lose sight of the true purpose of homeschooling: to keep our children focused on God and Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:33 tell us “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “ When we begin to get bogged down with curriculum, schedules, and field trips, we lose sight of what matters. This doesn’t mean these other things aren’t important; it simply means they are secondary. We can keep our focus where it needs to be in any of these areas by applying simple biblical principles. Let’s take a look.

1. Curriculum – My goodness! How many choices are there?! It seems endless when you go online and just type in a Google search “homeschool curriculum”. I just got 635,000 results in .48 seconds. Talk about choices! So how do we choose which is right for OUR kids? There is no one- size-fits-all when it comes to curriculum. But, as Christian homeschooling moms, there is one curriculum that needs no debate, discussion, or research and that is the Bible. For some of you this is the book you use more than any other, for others it is a source of reference. When it comes to curriculum it should be the book on which your curriculum is based, or at least part of it. So many worry about choosing the lessons their children will get, but forget that every lesson needed is straight out of God’s book. Perhaps you have heard the acronym for B.I.B.L.E., which is Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. A guideline for us, a guideline for our children. Let’s use it more than any other resource.
2. Schedules/Lesson Plans – First, let me explain what I see as the difference between schedules and lesson plans. A schedule is a time table to keep you on track, whereas a lesson plan is the topic you want to cover during that time. I don’t keep a schedule, but I am adamant about lesson plans. I know at least a week ahead what we’re going to cover, with the next week in the back of my mind, just in case we move quicker than I planned. I may want to cover the Civil War on Monday; it may be at 10am or it might be at 2pm. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Each day, make it a point to wake up and commit to sharing the gospel with your children. God will supply the time, and will guide your heart in what needs to be taught. As crazy as I am about lesson plans, days happen that I don’t check off one thing on that list. Those are the days we spend together as Mom and kids, snuggling on the couch, baking cookies, or studying the Word.
3. Field Trips – I’m going to be the first to admit, this is my least favorite part of homeschooling. I love being home. I like the smell of something baking, watching the snow fall in the backyard, or relaxing with a cup of coffee and my journal during Elizah’s nap time. Despite the fact I’m not a huge fan of field trips, we go on plenty of them. We go to museums, zoos, train rides, parks; we’ve gone sledding, spent the day in Central Park, and the library is a favorite destination (maybe because it’s inside!?). The best things we can do, though, involve being together and exploring God’s world.

Job 12:7-10, “But ask the animals and they will teach you; or birds of the air and they will tell you; or speak to the earth and it will teach you; or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the lord has done this. In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

Get out there and explore God’s world.

It’s easy to see that every aspect of homeschooling can include God’s word. By putting His Word first, everything else will fall into place. The curriculum we choose may or may not work for us, but the Bible will remain, and we can always switch curriculum. Our schedules may or may not be followed and lesson plans may be completed early or not at all on any given day, but God’s word will remain. We may go on field trips that make us want to tear our hair out, or leave us smelling like barn animals, but God’s word will remain.

Make a choice to put God at the center of your homeschooling and your journey will be blessed. Your children will be blessed; your home will be blessed.