With a push to dumbed-down homeschooling by the corporate virtual schools, it helps to keep in mind some essential truths when you're deciding how you want to homeschool.
Here are seven maxims that successful homeschoolers understand.
1. Smart Homeschoolers know that no child is an average
Tests and comparison charts show you how your child ranks in relation to the rest of his or her classmates. While your child may be above average or below average, most children are slotted somewhere in the average range for public schools.
Yet, no child is an average any more than a rose in bloom can be considered an average. Each child is a unique individual with a particular combination of gifts; homeschooling will allow your child to bloom.
Let your child to grow up to discover his uniqueness, but don't let him grow up to think of himself as an average.
He is an original piece of work. His rank is singular.
2. Smart Homeschoolers know that character development matters more than the training of the mind
This isn’t to say that one has to be sacrificed for the other, though you could argue that's exactly what's happening in public schools. The quality of your child’s character is being compromised in the name of education, because the focus in public school is on the training of the mind.
There is no training in moral development.
Yet, your child's character will be measured by his adherence to moral principles.
Your child could be a genius, but if he grows up with a cruel heart then what will his genius be worth?
On the other hand, let's say you raise your child to know the difference between right and wrong and to embody good character.
You've now raised a child who can make this world a better place just because he's in it.
The totality of our world is the sum of its parts, good and bad.
3. Smart homeschoolers know that the words “homework” and “homeschool” are interchangeable
This is not usually the reason why parents homeschool, but it could be. If your child is bringing home two to three hours of homework every night, and you're helping him with his homework, you may as well be homeschooling.
And what about your child? An eight hour school day plus two to three hours of homework makes for a very long day for your child. When will he find the time to develop a sense of his self, his interests, his talents and his skills?
Aren’t the latter important too?
On the bright side, if you homeschool:
you avoid the stress of getting your children up and out the door at a god-forsaken hour every morning
you avoid the stress of making sure they have lunches packed
you avoid the stress of interrupting your day to pick your children up from school
you avoid the stress of having to build your family's life around the state's school schedule
you avoid the homework battle that’s destroying family time
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
Homeschooled families relax at home, and the children learn at their own pace. They go on field trips when the time is right, and homeschoolers take vacations when it suits them. Often times they beat the summer rush by enjoying vacations in off-season times when prices are more affordable and the crowds are far less.
Homeschooled children also have plenty of time for discovering and pursuing their own interests in life, which is what will help bring meaning and fulfillment to their lives when they are grown.
4. Smart Homeschoolers know they don't need to test their children
Testing is for the classroom. A teacher has 30 students, and she cannot possibly keep track of what each child knows or doesn't know, so she administers periodic tests to evaluate each child's comprehension of whatever it is she's been teaching.
When you're teaching your children one-on-one, you know exactly where they're at in each subject you teach. If they fail to understand a concept, you work with them until they do understand.
If you're homeschooling using sound principles, you don't need to subject your children to the stress of standardized tests or any tests for that matter.
5. Smart Homeschoolers know that lots of books in a home inspire children to read
If you have a lot of bookshelves in your house, and if you have quality books for your children to read, they are more likely to read than children without home libraries.
“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live. ”
If you want your children to be good readers, provide them with excellent literature and keep the books where your children can see and touch them.
6. Smart Homeschoolers know that children whose parents read are more likely to grow up to be good readers too
Let your children see you reading, and they'll naturally do what you do. Let them witness your love of books, and they'll love books too.
Your children will learn to value what you value as long as you're the primary influence in their lives.
And if you don't love books yourself, you've got to discover the enjoyment in reading if you’re going to homeschool successfully. There are ways you can learn to love reading, even as an adult.
7. Smart Homeschoolers know that sometimes children need to learn things they may not want to learn, and that's okay.
Life is not always a bowl of cherries, and it's better not to raise your children to think it is. Sometime your children will have to do things because it's the right thing to do and not because they want to do it.
You may have a child that doesn't like grammar, but he will be illiterate without a knowledge of how his language works. Maybe he doesn't like math, but he needs to learn math if he's going to become financially competent.
“In the case of children, moreover, whether or not they enjoy the learning should be considered irrelevant.”
Above all else, make sure your children respect you and listen to you. Without this, it will be difficult to influence them in the right ways, and it will affect the quality of their education too.
Don’t miss our free download, Ten Books Every Well-Educated Child Should Read.
Become a Smart Homeschooler and raise smart, ethical, critically-thinking children by joining the Smart Homeschooler Academy online course. You will feel secure knowing that you have what you need to homeschool successfully as well as ongoing support from Elizabeth.
For parents of children under age seven who would like to prepare their child for social and academic success, please begin with our online course, Raise Your Child Well to Thrive in Life and Excel in Learning.
Elizabeth Y. Hanson is an Educator, Homeschool Emerita, Writer, and a Love and Leadership Certified Parenting Coach with 20 years of experience working in children’s education.
Utilizing her unusual skill set, coupled with her unique combination of mentors, Elizabeth has developed a comprehensive understanding of how to raise and educate a child. She devotes her time to helping parents get it right.
☞ Disclaimer: This is not a politically-correct blog.
