Starting to homeschool can be overwhelming. Such a big learning curve ahead of you. And yet, it is very exciting because you see your family in a new light.  These are my top 5 tips to families who are starting a Homeschool journey:

 

Top 5 tips for Families Starting to Homeschool

1.  Know why you are doing something.

Don’t just do something because you read about it or because others you know are doing it and it is working for them. What are your goals and does this help you achieve them? This can be a homeschool approach, a curriculum, a routine, a Living Book! Your family is different than any other family – work with it!

 

2.  Don’t copy School.

Making our homeschool like school is one of the biggest challenges that we face. For most homeschooling parents they themselves went to school. They may have liked it, they may have hated it but that is their experience. When we get overwhelmed our instinctive reaction is to move into what we know, what we feel comfortable with.

We know how school works. We tend to bring that system into the home environment. I encourage you to take a step back, give yourself time to define what learning in your home looks like rather than immediately jumping in and doing school.

mark twain education and schooling

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education – Mark Twain

 

3.  Work on Relationship issues first.

Do you have a good relationship with your kids? If not, plan ways to give your family an opportunity to build, maybe even restore your relationships. If you already have good relationships, be proactive in keeping it that way. (This includes sibling relationships)

Second to working on relationships is to work on character issues. If your children won’t obey you – you will have a hard time getting them to sit at a desk to do their work. There are many character issues that affect our learning – self control, respect and obedience are my top three.

4.  Prioritise training every day skills.

Training in these life skills takes time, and we need to make time in our day for this to happy and not be pressured into doing the ‘school stuff’.  In our household this started with daily chores. Not only does this free up you, the mum, but it gives you yet another opportunity to work on character issues. Doing the dishes has always been an opportunity to teach obedience, initiative, self control, consideration for others etc.

5.  Start on the academics slowly.

What is the number one academic need that you see in each of your children? Do they hate the idea of school? A love of learning will be your number one concern. Do they need to know how to read? How to research? Take notes? Or write a paper? Have they been struggling with math? Pick a priority and work with it till you feel comfortable and ready to instigate another discipline into your family life.

 

Oops…. I really have 6 tips!

 

6.  Keep your outside commitments to a minimum.

We are often propelled to outside the home activity possibly by the discussion on “Socialisation” but the reality is that your children are learning all the skills they need to be social beings through the regular web and flow of your family life.

There is a bumper sticker that says “If I am a stay at home mum, why am I always in the car!” How true that is.

If we are homechoolers, the benefits will come by being at home!

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So much to take in when you are starting to homeschool but these 5 things will give you a good start.

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An Alternative to Chocolate

An Alternative to Chocolate

Not that I have anything against chocolate - but these jelly beans can help your kids share the message of Jesus, his love, death and resurrection at Easter time.  

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Parent Guide: How to make your Family Bible Study Really Work

Family Bible Study is Tricky with all the Different Ages

 

But there is a way to make this a rich learning and bonding family time.  This Guide includes tips, planning worksheet, and discussion prompts.  

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Though true character is driven by internal motivation, our children will appreciate when we see that they are growing in character.

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Though true character is driven by internal motivation, our children will appreciate when we see that they are growing in character.

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A quick reference to help you discern between a heart attitude and a lack of skill for when your child loses it!

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Make God your First Response

Print out this parenting reminder to call out to God in the middle of the moment.

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Download Grow in Character Worksheets

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Learn to respond to your child in a way that changes their heart.

 

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Download Parenting Poster

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Learn to respond to your child in a way that changes their heart.

 

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Our children hear different words when we react to when we respond. Do your children hear blah blah blah when you correct them? Includes a parenting poster.

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When we Respond instead of React we find a way to deal with the heart not just behaviour.

 

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When family relationships get tense - look for the niggles.

Heart Focused Parenting Resource for the Intentional Parent

 

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Free Email Course

Daily emails  (6 days) to help you walk towards being a heart focused homeschool family!

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Find ways to Re-engage your Student

Download this checklist and stir your child's curiosity

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FREE Parenting Worksheet

This worksheet will help you move from addressing behaviour to really parenting the heart, one issue at a time.

 

 

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Personal growth starts with an honest assessment

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Give Effective Consequences

Think before you React

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One Another Verses

Be Intentional in the Teen Years

Use this Cheat Sheet to remind you of how you can love your teen.

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#14 Heart Booster from Resource Library

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Blending Life and Lessons - and start your journey of changing your thinking about education.

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Download: One Another Verses pdf

Download this list of One Another verses and teach your children how to love others.

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Raising Kids with Character

ATTEND LIVE : FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP

A bonus for Heart Booster readers:  Learn how to teach character to your kids so that they can live their lives making values-based choices.

 

Live Session:  5th May 2021, 6.30pm AWST

Replay available until 16th May 2021

 

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Raising Kids with Character

REPLAY OPTION : FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP

A bonus for Heart Booster readers:  Learn how to teach character to your kids so that they can live their lives making values-based choices.

 

Replay available from 6th May until 16th May 2021

 

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Raising Kids with Character

WAITLIST

 

The Raising Kids with Character parenting workshop will be offered again this year - details yet to be confirmed.  Join the waitlist so you don't miss out. 

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Bonus Reading list

 

Sharing my Homeschool Belief File

Knowing what you believe and why about education and homeschooling helps you make good decisions.

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Download: Family Devotional Activities (PDF)

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#21 Heart Booster from Resource Library

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