The Old Schoolhouse - March 2012

slowly to let the children, and yourself, get used to this new adventure. My kids also missed being around other children all day. No, they didn’t have quality time at school, but they did enjoy being near so many kids. So before you break open the textbooks, unit studies or whatever you’re using, ;nd a local homeschool group/co-op that meets regularly so your children know they aren’t “the only ones” and can begin to make good friends. Most importantly, enjoy this adventure with your children!;

—Katy Stephens, Virginia Beach, VA

As a mom of ;ve who has been homeschooling for six years, my ;rst advice would be to relax! Just enjoy being home with your children. Get them back into a sort of family routine. ;ey have to learn how to be at home all day just as you need to learn how to have them at home all day! Take some time to observe them, ;nd out what they enjoy and how they learn. It is worth the time “o;” to get to know your children better. ;en, if and when you choose to order curriculum, base your decisions on what you’ve learned about them.;Home-schooling is a journey for your family. It will help you to appreciate your children for who they are as well as show you what areas need work, academic or otherwise. Embrace it, don’t give up, and look forward to the many blessings God will bring to you through this commitment to educate your children at home! —Wendy Woerner, Royal Palm Beach, FL

I always tell new homeschoolers that the ;rst year may be full of crying (on both the mom’s and child’s part) and not a lot of schoolwork, so don’t give up when this happens. You may not have taught before; your children have been programmed to sit in a classroom from 8: 30 a.m.–3:00;p.m.;and;then [do];homework at night.;Schooled children have no idea how to transition from one subject to another, and not being under the tight con-;nes of a;classroom feels weird to them (sometimes acting out in weird behavior).

Start on something simple and fun like history, reading;or science. ;is will give Mom time to read over the harder subjects like math and language arts. Start having a family homeschool meeting each month. Kids must bring topics to the table in writing; this makes them think things through before the meeting and teaches them to be prepared to speak. Also let the kids make a list of things that they would like to learn that school year, such as ;eld trips that they would like to attend and areas of study they would like to pursue.

A few other tips: don’t give up, and train your child’s heart and character. Remember that boys will not sit still and need to run around to get energy out. Attend a homeschool convention to get pumped up. Do not attend every homeschool activity there is to attend—stay home and enjoy your family. Teach life skills. Don’t fall for the socialization trap (read the book by Rick Boyer by that same title).

—Moe Bruns, Central, IL

I got this suggestion from a mom who
homeschools her two daughters. She told
me to:
- Just relax and get used to the child be-
ing home and enjoy each other’s com-
pany the ;rst year.

- Set up home rules you would like to implement and work on those ;rst.

- Don’t buy any curriculum at ;rst; use the;library and the Internet.

- Use living books to teach from.

- Have lots of books around. Even if your child doesn’t like reading, have them read anyway, be sure to have some books that they would enjoy reading.

- Figure out what it is you want your child to really learn (for me it was Black History, which was not taught in the schools and not taught in any of the homeschool curricula).

- Un-school; let your children direct some of their learning and have input in their home education.

- Enjoy watching your children explore the world.

- Use the world to teach your children— everywhere you go is a ;eld trip, and the children are learning from that.

- Don’t believe the notion that homeschool kids aren’t socialized.;(I would say my child is better socialized by not being in public school.)

- Don’t stress about getting the learning work done.;

—Carolyn Scott, Santa Maria, CA

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In order to make sure children are prepared to write papers in college, do you have suggestions for teaching high school boys how to write long papers?