Preparing for the Upcoming School Year: Are You a Mary or a Martha?....

Luke 10:38-42 King James Version (KJV)

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Many of us are familiar with the story of Mary and Martha found in the Book of Luke. I believe it's a great story to bear in mind as we prepare for back to school. Are you a Mary or a Martha in your preparations? Are you feeling anxious about the upcoming year? Maybe you are new to home education or you have a first time high school student. Are you feeling pressured about choosing the perfect curricula or creating just the right plan? Maybe you have frightful thoughts of ruining your child. Or, you have family members and friends doubting your methods. Are you comparing to other home educators either locally or online and feeling like you're not measuring up? Any one of these can cause stress, but fortunately, God calls us for something more.

Philippians 4:6-7 King James Version (KJV)

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

He calls us to Him when we are anxious, fretting, jealous, competitive, discouraged, and unworthy. He is there in our darkest hour. He calls us to repent and rest in Him.

Matthew 11:28-30 King James Version (KJV)

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

If you are feeling more like Martha these days, it's time to Repent, Recommit, and Restart.

Repent

Andrew Kern from the CiRCE Institute speaks often about repentance. He says in doing so, you will come to understand what it means to be a free person. If we make an idol of books, curricula, lesson plans, and what our neighbor is doing, we will be a slave to those things and thoughts. When we repent, we cast off those idols, which opens our hearts and minds to the grace of our Lord. When you make yourself a living sacrifice to Jesus Christ, you become free. That inner discourse becomes peace.

There is no such thing as a perfect homeschool. Repent of perfection, which often stems from comparison. God's final commandment says,

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. (KJV)

This applies to your homeschool. Do not compare and desire what your neighbor appears to have, whether that be locally or online. It is sinful. Notice I said what your neighbor appears to have. Comparing my outside (online images) to your inside (reality) is comparing apples to oranges. What appears outside is often not reality. It is my experience that we are really not that different on the inside. Learn to be content with what you have. After all, it can always be worse.

Your identity should not be wrapped up in your homeschool. Therefore, you do not need to justify it. Genesis 1:26-27 tells us we were made in the image of Christ. Psalm 139:13-16 tells us we were knit together...fearfully and wonderfully made. Our self worth is often based on what others tell us about ourselves. However, the one, true authority on our self-worth is Jesus Christ. Having gave His own life for us by dying on a cross, shows how valuable we really are.You are enough in Christ, exactly what you need to be with or without your homeschool. Don't let your homeschool define you. If you do, when your kids are grown and gone, you will be left with nothing.

Recommit

Once you have repented, it's time to recommit. This is where you go back to your original intentions and goals to figure out why you homeschool in the first place and what is it you're trying to achieve. If you haven't created a vision statement for your homeschool, now is the time. A vision statement is your road map, showing what you want to become. It communicates your values and purpose, allowing you to focus on future plans.

Slow down! Often times overwhelm comes from busyness. Take time to contemplate your family's social commitments. Look at how many days a week you are away from home vs. at home. Social outings can be a source of refreshment. However, too many can leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. It's OK to say no. Stay home. Recommit, reconnect and recharge with your kiddos in the solitude of your home.

Look at each subject you are teaching and determine what you can cut. It is not possible to cover everything. Your child will have gaps. Every student does regardless of their schooling. Choose to keep only that which is best. If your goal is a love of learning, your children will desire to continue to learn throughout life. Any books unfinished or not able to fit the schedule now, may result in future endeavors as an adult. Learning is not fixed. It should be constant and continual.

Reassess the nature of yourself. Be sure you're getting enough rest and proper nourishment. Not only in the physical form of food, but pabulum for your mind. Take time to fill your cup with things that encourage and allow you to grow both spiritually and mentally, as well as physically. Recommit to yourself so that you are better able to give freely to your children with a servant's heart.

Restart

After repenting and recommitting, it's time be begin anew. Kick off the year with a fresh attitude and a heart of service. Enjoy your children and this limited time with them. Flea from worry and anxiety, which are sinful. Instead, trust God and teach restfully. Sit at His feet and hear His word like Mary, rather than being cumbered by serving like Martha. Find gratitude and give thanks. In turn, you will find peace and joy.

How I Avoid the Road to Homeschool Burnout....

I took this photo a month or so back after an eight inch snowfall. At first glance, it's beautiful with the fresh blanket of white and blue sky overhead. However, as you drive along, you start to notice the icy roadway with fifteen foot embankments. It quickly becomes very apparent that you must slow down or possibly lose control. This is also how I view creating my home education schedule.

You see, I'm a planner by nature. I love taking the big picture and breaking it into small parts. I actually prefer planning to teaching. For the first several years of home educating, I would spend my entire summer, and then some, planning each and every day right down to the "T". Then somewhere around year five, when I had three children working at three levels, including one with learning differences, I started to feel fried. My plan became my master. The beautiful scene I envisioned became an icy roadway and I found myself careening over the embankment.

After a couple of years of crash landings, I decided to slow down and take in the sights. I still plan, but at a much slower pace. I have reduced our schedule to only four days a week. What a difference this leisurely pace has made. This doesn't mean we are slacking in our academics. Quite the contrary. My children are finding time to pursue their interests. I have made time to enjoy the beautiful view, to pad the unexpected, to see my children as born persons.

Scheduling four day weeks allows us to live life. Because after all, as Andrew Kern says, education is about nurturing souls, not dumping facts. It's about fostering a love of learning.  In the past, I was more worried about my boxes than my people. I have come to see that was a detriment. There is no prize for checking the most boxes. Only love lost and hearts turned away.

February is a great time for scheduling, particularly here in WI where we've been shut in for several months with very little sun. This is where the rubber meets the road. Now is the time to see truth. If your schedule feels like a noose, loosen it up. Plan lighter for the next term or year. Make time to enjoy the view. You and your children will be much happier because when you slacken the pace, you create an environment more conducive to learning. Just ask me how I know....

The Unhurried Homeschooler....

In preparation for the GHC, I'm making my lists and checking them twice.  In the fall, I'll be 'teaching' 4K, 6th, and 7th grade.  This morning as I was nearing hyperventilation stage at the thought, I listened to Homeschool Snapshots Podcast 28, Unhurried Homeschooling with Pam Barnhill and Durenda Wilson.  I so appreciate perspective from veteran homeschooling moms like Durenda.  She has eight children ranging from age 11 to young adult homeschool graduates, a couple of which are married and carrying on the tradition with grandchildren.  After listening to the podcast, I felt better and would love to get my hands on a copy of her book, The Unhurried Homeschooler.

In poking around her blog, Simple Nourishing Home, I came across a video interview Durenda did with her third child, Jake, who, at that time, was a 19-year old college student.  In the intereview, Jake shares his homeschool experience and encourages homeschooling families.  I find it very reassuring when I hear homeschool graduates adamantly profess the power of homeschooling and their plans to continue with their children.  The Interview with Jake is a great testament to homeschooling.  There's no need for hyperventilation ;-)

My Best Homeschool Advice...

Over the years, I've learned a great deal through homeschooling.  Many wise women who went before me shared tips, tricks, and other knowledge they gained from their experience as homeschooling moms.  A couple of things really stuck with me.  The first being,  "Don't compare my outsides with your insides."

As homeschool moms, I think it's easy for us to look at what others are doing and feel inadequate.  We all know those moms, who look like they have it together.  Their kids are studying three foreign languages, attending STEM camps, taking AP courses, reading every book under the sun, and starring in lead drama roles, all while volunteering to save the world.   You feel like you could never keep up.  I'm here to tell you, you were not made to keep up.

God has created you to be the perfect parent for your kid(s).  We get into great trouble when we start to compare ourselves with others.  Exodus 20:17 (ESV) says,

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.

There it is!...God's law, and it applies to our homeschools. Coveting what it appears someone else has in their homeschool is against God's command.  Therefore, comparing ourselves to that other "perfect" homeschool family will ultimately lead to failure. You will not and cannot measure up, because it is not the life God designed for you.  Instead, let us cling to 1 Kings 3:12-14, which says,

...behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.  I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.  And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.

When you're feeling inadequate regarding your homeschool, rather than compare, pray for discernment and wisdom, knowing that God will give you what you need to lead your family in truth, beauty, and goodness. 

The second thing I've learned and would like to share is, "Let your curriculum be your slave, not your master."

I remember first starting this homeschool journey and trying to create school at home.  I began with a very traditional textbook curriculum that was designed for a classroom.   I found out quickly that it was not going to work for my class of one unless I did some major tweaking.  It was so freeing when another homeschool mom told me, it was OK to tweak.  I have since come to tweak everything and it's very liberating. 

Our children are not cardboard cutouts.  Each one of them is a born person, created uniquely by God.  Therefore, what works for one will not work for everyone.  Most curriculum was designed and published because it worked for someone.  But in homeschooling, there is no one size fits all because we are all individual.  Being bound by your curriculum will surely cause burnout.  Rather, feel free to use what works and leave the rest!      

What's your best homeschool advice?  Leave a comment below and link up today to Sonlight's 25th Anniversary Blog Party...

Avoiding Homeschool Burnout...

February seems to be burnout month.  I know winter has been looooonnnggg here in WI and we're all more than a little stir crazy!   So today, I thought I'd post some links with helpful tips and encouragement on beating those burnout blahs...

1.Brandy Vencel at Afterthoughts has been posting a series of blogs called Preventing Homeschool Burnout.

2. I loved this post by Pam at Ed Snap Shots on The Ten Best Things You're Not Doing for Your Homeschool! You might say, now wait a minute Melissa, I'm burnt out and your including a list of things for me to add to my homeschool!  Actually, Pam's list is everything I find comforting about homeschooling.  By following these 10 easy steps, you will be set free from the daily grind.  I see it as simplifying :)

3. Does math got ya down?!  Take a break from the textbook and try some Real Living Math: A Fresh Approach to Teaching.  

4. Lori Lane, from The End in Mind, does a wonderful job of describing homeschool burnout with a symptom checklist.  She has some great tips for coping as well as prevention here in Homeschool Burnout: Rising from the Ashes.   She's also currently airing of series of podcasts over the next five weeks on Avoiding the Homeschool Blues. 

5. And last, but not least, I watched the following webinar today that Jimmie Lanley, from Jimmie's Collage, shared on behalf of Bright Ideas Press.


So what have you been doing to prevent homeschool burnout? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please leave comments below...

Homeschooling through High School 101...

I recently spoke to a group of homeschool moms regarding homeschooling through high school.  It's so hard to believe we only have a month left until Angel's graduation.  That time went really fast!  Today, I thought I'd share with you some of what I've learned along our high school journey.

Before beginning to homeschool high school (or any grade for that matter), it's important to know your state law. In Wisconsin, homeschoolers are considered private schools. To meet private school requirements, homeschooling families must check that they comply with Statute 118.165. This statute requires that educating families choose an educational program or curriculum based on a private or religious-based education that is privately controlled. The educational program must provide 875 hours of instruction with a curriculum that progressively increases instruction in each of the required subjects. The state of Wisconsin requires all children have regular instruction in the subjects of language arts, reading, mathematics, social studies, science and health.  Homeschooling families can provide this instruction in any way they wish to enhance their student’s educational opportunities such as utilizing field trips, community activities, co-op classes, educational games and community sports opportunities. Wisconsin homeschooling laws do not require homeschooling students to take standardized tests.

WI law further states the education program chosen by homeschooling families should not operate solely to avoid the compulsory attendance law. Based on these requirements, Wisconsin school officials can only check homeschooling students' attendance records, not their academic records. These requirements also state that parents do not have to pick any curriculum or educational program that conflict with their personal beliefs, giving homeschooling families in Wisconsin freedom to choose their own materials.

In other words, WI law does not require education as in you need so many credits of this or that to graduate.  WI parents award transcript and diploma based upon their family goals and ideals.  (Disclaimer - The above is my interpretation of the WI homeschooling law.  I am not an attorney and this is not an attempt at legal advice.  Please consider studying your state's homeschooling laws before beginning to homeschool.)  With that said, I sense that you want to do more than just keep attendance so let’s begin planning those wants. 

Planning is one of my favorite parts of homeschooling.  In all honesty, I may be a better planner than implementer of my plan.   When I began to plan Angel's high school, I considered each of the following:

- Plans after high school – college, military, work, missions, etc.

- Subjects required on PI-1206

- Potential college entrance requirements

- Local public school requirements


After considering all the above, we created our four year plan.  A four year plan is an outline or road map of your students projected four year high school experience.  The plan will be fluid in that it will change from 9th to 12th grade based on your student's finalized plans after high school and life's unexpected quarks.  Remember, some of the best laid plans can change at the drop of a pin, so be flexible.  Customize the plan accordingly by balancing easy/hard classes, fun/challenging classes, and huge time commitment classes with less time commitment classes.  Limit the number of classes on the plan to 6-8 per year.  

The next step is developing a system of record keeping.   Remember, in WI we are only required to keep attendance.  However, it's to your student's benefit to keep some record of their four year high school experience.  You may need this later in life, particularly for entrance to college.  Students can assist you in this process.  Give them a blank composition book and/or school planner; start a file with projects, field trips, plays, concerts, book lists, etc.  At the beginning of 9th grade, I gave Angel a blank composition book with sections tabbed: Jobs & Volunteer Work; Clubs & Organizations, Memberships; Camps, Civic Events & Conferences; Travel & Field Trips; Sports, Competitions, & Contests; Plays, Radio, TV, & Movies; and Books, Magazines, and Newspapers.  It was her job to log hours or cite any resources she used in each of these sections.   You may also consider photocopying the cover & table of contents from textbooks, being careful to honor copyright laws.

There are several ways to issue credits to your high school student.  For example, 1 credit can equal a number of hours; successful completion of high school textbook or yearlong correspondence class; parent established criteria (student reads and reports on 20 novels, 2 plays, book of poetry, & 2 research papers); parent set standard of proficiency (student reaches typing speed of 50 words per minute with 95% accuracy = ½ credit earned); or any combination.  The average number of credits given over four years of high school study is 20, which equates to five per year. 

A typical high school schedule equals approximately 5-6 hours per day, 5 days per week, 36 weeks a year, or 180 days per year (180 days x 5 hours per day will give you 900 hours total).  By using this calculation, you meet the required 875 hours that you committed to when filing the PI-1206. 

A general guide for determining credit hours is:

- Electives are typically 120 hours (40 minutes x 180 days)

- Required classes are typically 150 hours (50 minutes x 180 days)

- Classes with labs can reach up to 180 hours (60 minutes x 180 days)

You will need to determine how you will issue grades in your homeschool.   Don’t stress over this.  Public school districts vary on grading from school to school as well as within the schools.  Grading can vary from teacher to teacher.  Grades are subjective any way you look at it.  Regardless, I feel some sort of evaluation is important at the high school level.  Grades can be used for transcripts.  Scholarships can be awarded on grades.  I also believe at the upper levels you need some sort of accountability to teach or evaluate employability of your student. (i.e. Can they get up on time? Are they motivated self starters?  Can they manage their time wisely?  Can they meet deadlines?, etc.)  Whether entering college or the work force, these employability factors are necessary skills. 


Upon graduation, you will need to issue your student a transcript.  A transcript is a record of all courses taken and grades earned in high school.  There are free online transcript calculators.  Click here for one I plan to personally use.   Typically transcripts are one page.  You do not need to use your child's social security number, extracurricular activities, attendance records, or test scores on the transcript.  In addition to the transcript, some families keep a portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of materials or projects demonstrating what the student learned in a particular class or activity.  It's a scrapbook of sorts.

The following is an attempt to define some common high school terminology: 


- Elective = class chosen by your student, may or may not be required in your school; often interest driven – art, music, auto mechanics, home economics, agricultural studies, etc.

- Extra Curricular = activities that are not part of your school day – sports, theater, dance, recreation, etc.

- Life Skills = skills needed for life – automotive skills, obtaining drivers license, household maintenance, shopping, personal finance, cooking/baking, yard/garden maintenance, food preservation, self care, study skills, career skills, manners, character qualities, etc.

** It can be hard to differentiate between electives, extra curricular, and life skills in a homeschool setting.  Again, don't sweat it!  Take a look at the overall picture and look for holes.  Then plug these holes with the skills acquired.  Bible or scripture study can come under electives or life skills.

- Career Cluster Interest Survey – career guidance tool often given in middle school or early high school

- PLAN – ACT practice specifically for 10th graders; consists of 2 parts: academic component, which is a shortened version of ACT and a career component – results used as a tool for career planning and will give predicted ACT score

- PSAT – SAT practice, when taken in the 11th grade year, it’s the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarship Program

- SAT, ACT – college entrance exams

- Compass – CVTC entrance exam

- ASVAB – career exploration tool, if taken in 11th or 12th grade it can be used as a military entrance exam; scores are good for 2 years

- AP – advanced placement; college level classes usually for 11th and 12th grade; taken to prepare for advanced placement exams administered by college board and may or may not result in college credits or advanced standing

- CLEP – similar to AP, but not as rigorous; fewer colleges accept CLEP tests for credit – may consider for psychology or sociology or other philosophical courses that may be contrary to Biblical Worldview


In closing, I would recommend finding a mentor to guide you through your high school experience.  This person will not only answer any questions you may have, they will also pray with you and calm your doubts and fears.  This person should be a trusted source with whom you have a close alignment in thinking.  In other words, choose someone with a similar homeschool style as your own. 

Above all, “The function of education is not to give technical skill but to develop a person; the more of a person, the better the work of whatever kind” (Charlotte Mason Vol. 6, p. 147).  God has called each and every one of your students to be wise and accept instruction so that they may seek His glory.  Homeschooling through high school is a privilege and a gift.  I pray that you will take advantage of it :)

Homeschooling through High School Resources

Senior High: A Home Designed Form+U+La by Barbara Edtl Shelton (website)

From Homeschool to College and Work: Turning your Homeschooled Experiences into College and Job Portfolios by Alison McKee

The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise – guide to classical education at home

Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura Berquist – Catholic classical education

http://simplycharlottemason.com/2010/03/17/basic-mainstays-homeschooling-through-high-school-the-cm-way/ - Simply Charlotte Mason on high school

https://www.amblesideonline.org/HighSchool.shtml Ambleside Online on Charlotte Mason high school 

http://www.donnayoung.org/forms/high-school.htm - Donna Young’s website

http://www.hslda.org/highschool/ - HSLDA homeschooling through high school web page

http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/allabout/interviews/interviewwile.php - an interview with Dr. Jay Wile (Apologia Science) regarding homeschooling through high school

http://harmonyfinearts.org/category/high-school/ - Barb at Harmony Fine Arts at Home blog posts on homeschooling through high school – Charlotte Mason/Classical Education combo

http://www.squidoo.com/harmonyartmom#module136822871 – Barb of Harmony Fine Arts – high school lesson plans

http://www.hodgepodge.me/2013/06/homeschooling-high-school-curriculum-organization-planning/ - Tricia Hodges homeschool blog

Various Methods of Homeschooling

Over the past five years, I have researched various types/methods/approaches of education.  Here are some notes/generalizations that I've made about those various methods.

1.    Traditional textbook/workbook

a.    Text based = read excerpt, answer questions, take test, repeat

b.    Instructor driven, often classroom oriented

c.    Less teacher prep & easier to grade

d.    Provides scope & sequence, teacher manuals, answer keys, built in tests, various teaching aids

e.    Less flexibility/freedom

f.     Student memorizes for test, then may forget

g.    Doesn’t fit all learning styles

h.    Student who doesn’t fit curriculum may feel inferior or become bored

i.      Divides family as everyone typically works separately

j.      Sequential – avoid “gaps”

2.    Classical

a.    Teaches Trivium – Latin for “where three roads meet”

1.    Grammar Stage – early elementary – child absorbs factual information

2.    Logic/Dialectic Stage – middle school – child is more inquisitive and analytical

3.    Rhetoric Stage – high school – child is more creative expressive

b.    Follows stages of development, sequential

c.    “Training of the mind” – develops independent thinkers

d.    Incorporates Logic & Latin, uses Socratic Method

e.    Most emphasis on history and classic literature

f.     Little prepared curriculum available

g.    Requires more direct instruction (discussion), teacher prep

3.    Unit Study

a.    Most subjects are covered by studying one topic or time period

b.    Read variety of books, hands on activities, field trips

c.    Useful for teaching multiple grade levels/multisensory learning

d.    Children retain what they are learning/doing

e.    More teacher prep & involvement

f.     More uncertainty about covering all subjects – fear of “gaps”

4.    Charlotte Mason/Living Books/Literature

a.    Turn of the century, 1800-1900’s, educator in England

b.    Use real/living books and primary sources, avoid “twaddle” = books written down to children with short sentences and fancy pictures, cartoons, requiring little imagination, etc.

c.    Narration instead of workbook – narration = tell back what we just read, saw, or heard

d.    Copywork, dictation, recitation

e.    Nature study, nature walks, journal/notebook

f.     Art appreciation

g.    Stimulates love of learning

h.    Various subjects integrated into reading, but not necessarily as purposeful as in unit study

i.      Learning is low-key and comes as a natural process of simply reading a good book

j.      Not all subjects are covered at all times, may not follow traditional scope & sequence

k.    Useful for multiple ages and learning styles

l.      More teacher prep

m.   Fear of “gaps”

5.    Charter/Virtual/Umbrella School

a.    Computer based

b.    Assigned curriculum

c.    Scheduled with limited flexibility, deadlines, scope & sequence

d.    Each child working at different level on various subjects

e.    Can be public school or private school based

6.    Unschooling

a.    Student directed learning

b.    Flexible, loose schedule

c.    Useful for multiple ages and learning styles

d.    May have “gaps”

      7.  Eclectic – use a variety of methods

We have tried many of these in our homeschool including traditional textbooks, classical, unit studies, Charlotte Mason, and eclectic as you can see by our past curriculum choices (post 1, post 2, post 3). There are pros and cons to each.  But lately I keep coming back to Charlotte Mason.  Here's a series of posts that I did regarding our CM homeschool (post 1, post 2, post 3, & post 4).

What type of homeschool method do you prefer?