Reaching Higher Homeschool Ezine, Issue #016 -- How Long?

Reaching Higher is a free, monthly homeschool ezine to encourage and equip homeschoolers, bringing you the best advice, articles, websites and encouragement we can to help you as you raise your young ones and build your family legacy!

If you enjoy this e-zine, please pay it forward and send it to a friend.
If you would like to subscribe, sign up at Reaching Higher.

Issue #016 - March 2008

How Long?

Recently we were asked how long seated school work should take for a specific grade. This question showed a deeper concern that many homeschool moms have: “Is my child keeping up with their peers?”

Often we get concerned parents contacting us asking us whether their children will be able to “slot back” into school at the right grade level if “homeschooling doesn’t work” or is only a temporary activity.

We would like to address these concerns this month.

Advice

#1 How long should school work take?

This is entirely dependent on the curriculum you use, your family dynamic and your individual children. Not much help? We like to follow Charlotte Mason’s guidelines of shorter lessons and alternating subjects to keep it fresh and interesting. In our homeschooling homes where we place a large emphasis on real life delight directed learning, learning is happening all the time…24/7. Seat work, where concentrated writing, reading and maths is taking place, can easily fit into 3 hours at the maximum.

#2 Is my child keeping up with his peers?

This is a biggy that comes up in each homeschool mom’s life. Mom needs to assess why she feels the need to compare:Are their external influences that make her feel like her children are not doing as well as others in school?
Are grandparents perhaps expecting a level of performance that mom needs to live up to?
Or is it just that mom is second guessing herself all the time?

Each of these points needs a little self assessment to be done. Once the reason is isolated mom can begin to address it in her own heart. Once she is set free from other people’s expectations she can continue to homeschool with a lot more self motivation.

# 3 Will my child fit back into school?

We do not homeschool our children with the view of “slotting” them into a school system. We homeschool our children because we are convicted that this is what the Lord requires of us as Christian parents. However there are other families who do to travel or overseas work for a period, choose to only homeschool for a season.

In this instance (where a family will be placing their children back into a school) it is important to keep their 3 R’s on par with the schools standard. Other content type subjects become part of the children’s portfolio which should be put together each year and stored as a matter of course. Simple entrance exams at the school of these parents’ choice should suffice along with their portfolio.

What we believe and have found to be true is that the homeschooling experience is generally such a maturing process for a child who is diligently trained at home that their maturity levels once back in the classroom make up for any “lost” subject matter.

The last point we would like to briefly touch on is parents who put their children into school because “homeschooling didn’t work”. Anyone who has homeschooled for a while can tell you that it is an exhilarating, exhausting, joyful, overwhelming, fantastic experience.

Some parents give up way too soon and throw in the towel. To these parents, and possibly to others facing this decision right now – when homeschooling is showing up all your flaws, when your children and yourself are rubbing up against one another like sandpaper, when learning problems arise, when bad attitudes are seen during school time – this is when homeschooling counts.

Remember this quote: "...God's initial goal for Christian homeschooling families is not the raising of godly children. Instead, God's wonderful, but subtly hidden agenda is that the homeschooling experience be so challenging for the parents that they feel the need and hunger for a closer walk with their heavenly Father." (Kyle Miller)

Free Printables

This month's new free notebooking pages are about Proteas and Robert Baden-Powell.

Websites

The black-outs caused by Eskom seem to have cast a cloud of negativity over many South Africans recently. For some 'balance' and a more positive perspective of South Africa, you and your children might enjoy browsing and discussing one or two articles from South Africa - The Good News. You could also talk to your children about being content in all circumstances!

Footprints News

One of Wendy’s children is a budding chef. Tied into his Footprints studies for the year is a requirement that he prepare an authentic South African meal once a week for the family. Some great recipes can be found here as well as two wonderful cook books to purchase.

We have added more book reviews to our Children’s literature lists, so be sure to check them out.

Till next month, we wish you every blessing

Wendy and Shirley

www.south-african-homeschool-curriculum.com

Footprints On Our Land - South African Homeschool Curriculum

Back to Back Issues Page