If “trying” really means aiming at success, then, how to succeed really is the question. Let’s consider some of the sayings that belong to real success in home schooling. You may be surprised.
First, we do not want to do what some moms do, which is merely to take a stab at it. For these moms, it is not well-thought-out at all.
They just “give it a whirl”.
They do not pray.
They do not ask their husbands.
They do not research.
Remember this maxim:
Education is preparing your child for life.
It is not a hobby. It is more important than a new nail polish color, not something you try out and then abandon. It is nothing less than a life decision. In these days, many are beginning to call it a life-and-death decision.
Another:
Home schooling is not about curriculum.
Yes, you probably need curriculum, (although some do fine without), but you can visit with hundreds of families at any home school convention, and you will find thousands of folks succeeding, while using every imaginable curriculum made.
For instance, any child who is ready to learn to read can do so with almost any decent phonics curriculum.
Sure, there may be only one company “out there” perfectly able to meet your needs or style.
Yes, you probably need to shop with an unbiased veteran a time or two.
Still, as far as all the proven curriculum companies go, they are proven. Do not continually put on and take off curriculum until it is too late to accomplish anything. That is not trying to succeed at home schooling; it is merely trying, and at the wrong goal, at that.
I repeat, it is not about curriculum; trying on curriculum is not the same as home schooling.
One other surprising truth about home schooling is:
Usually, it is easy to do well without trying very hard.
For many, it is a little like falling out of bed, actually. The simple fact that the children are at home, instead of out on their own, will make them smarter. Yes, the act of being at home, by itself, will make your children smarter.
Of course, we want them to learn as much as possible, and we will take every opportunity to ensure that this is happening, but bringing them home, in and of itself, makes worlds of difference. They will no longer feel forced to waste mental energy on peer pressure, self-preservation, and competitiveness. They will be able to relax and the elimination of great stress will free them to excel.
Then there is the other side of it: they will have much, much less to un-learn.
Often our children at home seem accidentally to learn more than we expected, solely because they are in a more learning-conducive setting. It is much like osmosis.
This is, I admit, a lot of re-arranging to wrap our thinking around.
Do think about it, though.
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Photo credit: IowaPolitics.com
Home's Cool! 