Inspirational Homeschooling: The Christian Homeschooling Guide to Balancing Academics and Family Life

By Yvonne Strachan

Gain confidence in yourself, in your reasons for homeschooling, and in your ability to homeschool while staying true to God, to yourself, and to your family.

As a fully integrated part of everyday living, homeschooling can be affected by or have an impact on every aspect of life. As a homeschool parent, it is easy to feel overwhelmed or in

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Sep 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781647732608

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Inspirational Homeschooling

The Christian Homeschooling

Guide to Balancing Academics

and Family Life

Yvonne Strachan

Trilogy Christian Publishers

TUSTIN, CA

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2020 by Yvonne Strachan

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, Ca 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-64773-259-2

ISBN 978-1-64773-260-8

Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

1. Build a Solid Foundation 1

2. Discipleship 9

3. Take Care of You 25

4. Marital Maintenance 37

5. Maximize Time Spent with Your Family 53

6. Your Role is Important (Rest Assured, You Got This) 61

7. Each Path is Unique 63

8. An Invaluable Support System 73

9. Homeschooling Can Magnify Us 77

10. The Value of Discipline 85

11. Simplify Chores and Welcome Help 115

12. Reduce Clutter and Organize Your Life 127

13. Meals, Snacks, and Groceries 137

14. Budget for Your Priorities 151

15. Aim for a Smoother Homeschool Experience 161

16. Setting Priorities 193

17. Reveiw Opportunities and Commitments 201

18. It’s Okay to Shift Priorities When Life Takes a Turn 209

19. Set Your Priorities in Motion 221

20. Subject Matter Diversity 235

21. Finding Peace with Curriculum 247

22. Teacher’s Assistants 255

23. Tailor Your Teaching Methods to Suit Your

Child’s Needs 263

24. When a Child Loses Interest 287

25. Working with Children Who Have

Learning Difficulties 303

26. Recognizing and Cultivating Your Child’s

God-Given Gifts 321

27. Recordkeeping for Elementary Students 333

28. Planning for High School 343

29. Climbing the Steps Toward High School Graduation 353

30. Transitioning Challenged Students Post-High School 401

31. Building a Spiritual Life for the Future 407

Resources 423

To my children, Ashley, Amber, Jimmy, Lauren, and Thomas:

I pray that homeschooling you has been and continues to be instrumental in bringing you closer to our ever gracious and wondrous God. May He preserve the preciousness of your hearts

and your willingness to love and help others.

Acknowledgments

The person I want to thank the most is my husband. His helpfulness cannot be understated as I think about all the cleaning supplies he has wielded after long hard days at work. I think back to a comment he made as he watched me practice a presentation that I created for a homeschool workshop: This doesn’t have to be a Steven Spielberg production. With all this information you want to share with homeschool families, you should write a book.

That’s right, everyone—it is really my husband whom you should thank for this book. I’ve often wondered if he regrets speaking those words. During the past few years, he has had to live with me staring at my computer, tirelessly typing page after page during every free moment I could muster. Without his support, encouragement, and all the extra chores he took on, I could not have written this book.

I am also grateful for my mom who has been immensely helpful by spending one day each week, helping me grade and teach. She also cheerfully spends time with my children each time I leave for a homeschool conference. Each time I revised my draft, her encouragement and honest reviews have proven to be of immeasurable value.

Tears of thankfulness and joy fill my eyes as I think about my oldest daughter, Ashley. I will always cherish the togetherness we shared as we spent countless hours working together, editing and revising this book. This girl has perseverance like you wouldn’t believe! God has given her great writing and editing skills that she continually works at sharpening. I can’t wait to see how God will work through her talent.

Introduction

Life is like a hanging mobile above an infant’s crib, balanced with life’s circumstances. Each time something is added or changed, the mobile takes time to regain balance. Homeschooling is one of those impactful yet remarkable additions. As a fully integrated part of everyday living, homeschooling can be affected by or have an impact on every aspect of life.

Choosing to teach your children on top of the challenging work that comes with parenting is quite an undertaking. As you discover the methods of other homeschool families, you may feel encouraged, but you may also experience doubt, fear, and worry as you compare yourself to others. Opportunities, commitments, and responsibilities can seem overwhelming. Your confidence may waver in the effort to find an easier or better way. Each year brings its own set of challenges amidst the growth.

As you read this book, you will gain confidence in yourself, your reasons for homeschooling, and your efforts to raise your children. The stories of my personal challenges will reassure you that you are not alone in your determination to keep going in the face of your own challenges as you work to make a difference in the lives of your children and others. The incorporation of scriptural study in combination with compassion, loving support, and thought-provoking questions will help you stay true to God, to yourself, and to your family. The practical strategies, solutions, resources, and guidance woven throughout this book will give you confidence in your ability to homeschool your child at any and every age. All these elements combined will help you savor the process of working toward successfully reaching your goals in homeschooling your children. You will realize meaningful success throughout your homeschool experience.

1

Build a Solid Foundation

An architect must apply his base of knowledge to visualize a structure and create workable plans before a construction project can be started. As architects of our children’s youth, parents can visualize and create a workable plan by using God’s Word as our guide both in raising our children and in facilitating their education at home. The following verses shine light on the important building blocks that need to be included in those plans.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5–7)

As I review these verses, I gain clarity for the reasons I need all these building blocks not only for raising my children but for homeschooling them as well.

Every builder must have a solid foundation before he can build a structure that will remain strong and withstand the elements and forces that will affect it over time. Likewise, each person needs to build on a solid foundation of faith in order to stand strong through trials and tribulations. When you build every aspect of life on a solid foundation of faith, you gain confidence in your decisions, knowing God’s ever-loving guidance and strength will stand the test of time.

Once you have a solid foundation of faith, you can develop a strong and sturdy structure. The ascending framework must start with a character that pleases God (goodness). Since children rely on parents and look to them for guidance, your will to please God will ignite your child’s will to please God. When your child’s heart is filled with a desire to please God, he will start to recognize the unique talents that God gave him in order to fulfill God’s will for his life. With this sense of purpose in mind, your child will study enthusiastically as he focuses on fulfilling his callings. In this way, the ascending framework of goodness will support the expansion of knowledge and understanding that your child needs to serve others.

As this structure of faith, goodness, and knowledge emerges, you must add self-control. Self-control demonstrates your reliance on God to provide the guidance, wisdom, and understanding needed to achieve any task God places on your heart. It also demonstrates your trust in God for strength, protection, and peace as you weather any hardship. When you trust in and rely on God, you worry less and achieve more.

Once a structure is complete, a maintenance crew must continually inspect its integrity and fix weak areas so it can withstand the elements and forces that will affect it. Likewise, you must continually maintain virtues of faith, character (goodness), knowledge, and self-control. When these virtues are maintained, your integrity will be sustained, equipping you to persevere through trials and tribulations as you hold steadfast and firm on your foundation (God). This will allow God’s light to radiate out of you, positively impacting the lives around you. Showcase God’s light (godliness) through your actions, words, and interactions with others (mutual affection). Demonstrate your love for others as you pair compassion and care with knowledge and understanding throughout your personal and professional life.

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4)

In order to grow faith in your child, he must see your faith working within you.

As we study and examine God’s creation, we discover just how remarkable God is, how much he cares for us, and how intricate his plans for us are. One seemingly magical event in God’s creation occurs as the light of day appears: the morning dew sparkling on leaves and blades of grass. As you think about this seemingly small event, you see a snapshot of the many ways God provides for His creation even in the absence of rain.

The morning dew is a system of daily renewal for nature all around. Like nature soaking up the life-giving refreshment in the morning light, we can renew and refresh in God each day. Revelation 21:6 reminds us that God will fill us with life as we thirst for Him and soak up His word. When we revitalize ourselves by soaking up God’s Word and spending time in prayer, God in turn rejuvenates us, equipping us with new perspective, restoring our hopes, and renewing our strength. He prepares us to meet the trials and workings of each day. Start your day right by fulfilling your thirst for God, and your heart will overflow with thankfulness and love, even as you wade through the experiences and events of the day ahead.

To align yourself with God from the very start of your day, find out what works best to help you focus your thoughts on God. While some find a morning Bible study or prayer works best, others feel close to God while listening to Christian rock. Once you discover what works best for you, stick with it. Focusing on God each morning will cultivate positivity throughout your day.

To align myself with God from the very start of my day, I wake up early to nurture my mind, body, and soul. In this season of life, I wake up at 5:00 a.m. to start an exercise routine accompanied by God-glorifying music. This type of music helps me become more positive and confident. As I listen to the words, I become more focused on the glory of God and ways in which I can fulfill His purpose for my life. This combination of positivity, confidence, and focus creates an environment that inspires new ideas of ways in which I can help my family and others.

After glorifying God while taking care of my physical being, I shower and prepare myself as though I intend to leave the house. I enter my kitchen with shoes on my feet and put my coffee maker to work. With a coffee-filled cup in hand, I sit at my dining room table and review the last few entries in my prayer journal. As I read several accounts of trials and answered prayers, it becomes abundantly clear that although each person walks his own path through both wilderness and lush fields, God is always there. He is always preparing us for our journeys ahead.

This prayer journal aids my ability to focus and pray with purpose as I think about God and others. I script new prayers and thoughts on an empty page. Then I hold my cup of coffee as I think about others who have touched my life. Reminded that tomorrow is not promised, I echo the cry of Psalm 90:12, asking God to teach me to savor each of life’s moments one sip at a time. I ask God to guide my actions and words so that I have a positive impact on others.

God is my compass through this process of sorting and addressing my thoughts and prayers, bringing new perspective and clarity to my purpose and efforts. Even in a stormy sea, my lighthouse beckons me safely into His arms. My hope becomes anchored in Him, firm and secure.

This morning routine brings me to a restful state. Overcome with unexplainable peace, I now feel refreshed and ready to start working with my children.

You may find it moving and inspiring to write down your thoughts, prayers, and related verses in a prayer journal of your own. As you fill the pages of your journal, your focus and reliance on God will sharpen. Upon reflection of your personal heartfelt thoughts and prayers, you may feel as if your heart is going to leap out of your chest with thankfulness for God’s hand in your life as well as the lives of those around you. Realizing the power of prayer, you may find it invaluable and encouraging to note any answered prayers. Beneficial inscriptions include details of God’s work and the strength He has given you.

In addition, you can keep God at the forefront of your day, maintain focus, and stay encouraged by posting a few verses throughout your home. Showcase verses on sticky notes, a chalkboard, or a dry-erase board.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:5–7)

Make a lifelong commitment to stay focused on the Lord throughout every day, especially as you homeschool your children. Where is your treasure? Where is your focus? If you focus on God each day, your heart, mind, and soul will reap the benefits and joy such focus brings. Learn from God, seek His guidance, love Him, and lean on Him in everything you do. As you walk a path with Christ every day, your joy and peace will be noticeable. The more you walk a faithful path, the better you can disciple your children through your actions and words. Your living example will inspire your child and others to pursue a daily walk with God too.

Be confident that God will guide you as you walk hand-in-hand with your child on the path of his youth. As your child reaches adulthood and you witness him continue the work God has set before him, you will give glory to God and thank Him for His guidance. Throughout this book, you will discover more practical strategies and solutions that will help you strengthen and maintain your walk with God on your path through life.

Questions to Help You Focus on God First

What activities or surroundings help you feel close to God?

What specific things can you do to help keep in tune with God’s guidance?

What encourages you to lean on God throughout your day?

Describe a time when you relied on God.

2

Discipleship

Every time I held one of my newborn infants, I marveled at the miracle of life. Not only did I feel awe for God’s glory, but my whole being poured out an overwhelming thank you to God for entrusting me to love and provide care for that child. I knew God was counting on me to help cultivate my children’s faith, character (goodness), knowledge, discipline (self-control), perseverance, and love for others. Each time, I realized how unequipped I was for raising them. A strong foundation of faith was essential. I would have to rely on and trust in God to equip, guide, and prepare me for every need.

From the moment your child is born, you are called to help him build a structure of faith, good character, knowledge, and self-control. You are entrusted to raise your child in God’s Word. You were selected to share your knowledge about our Creator and His world. God called upon you to show your child love and teach him the importance of loving others. You are tasked with showing your child what it looks like and feels like to walk as a child holding the hand of God.

The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. (Luke 6:40)

Since children are highly influenced by the worldviews, beliefs, and opinions of teachers, peers, and media, you must consider who is influencing your child. Whoever is educating and influencing your child is also discipling him.

When you choose to educate your child at home, taking on the additional role as his main teacher, you are choosing to be the most influential and instrumental person in your child’s life. Therefore, your faith in God will transcend through the decisions you make concerning the world around you, the people in your life, and the very tools you use in educating your child.

Since you are with your child most of the time, you will notice when your personal actions and words affect your child. Likewise, you will notice when influences of the environment and surrounding people affect your child. When you spend an increased amount of time with your child, you will benefit from increased opportunities to identify and address your child’s worries, behaviors, and attitudes at a moment’s notice. Since it is most effective to address issues as they happen, you will be grateful for these opportunities as you reflect on your time together.

Does your worldview matter?

Yes, absolutely it matters! It affects everything from your actions, words, and choices to your view on everything you read, write, hear, and experience!

I remember a day that left me with feelings of exhaustion because I had spent all day tending to my children’s sibling rivalry. Reflecting on that day from a worldly perspective generates humanity-based thoughts which cause feelings of failure due to the lack of accomplishing school and my inability to address the growing mountain of laundry because my time was spent addressing my children’s misbehavior. On the other hand, when I view the events of that day from a Bible-based perspective, I become thankful to the Lord for allowing me to witness my children’s trials, which grants me the opportunity to disciple and teach them about the importance and value of their relationship with each other. Time spent discipling and teaching your child will affect his future not only because he will grow to value his brothers and sisters in your family, but that he will value all his relationships throughout his life. When you view a day such as this with the latter biblical point of view, your feelings will be thankful for a day filled with immense value and opportunity.

If you teach your child that God breathed life into him and redeemed him through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ dying for his sins so that he may be with God for all eternity, that alone teaches self-worth and hope.

All that is but a start as there is so much more depth to all God’s creation! Teaching your child from a biblical perspective will set him on an early path to God’s love and forgiveness, enabling him the opportunity to better understand what being in God’s service means. Furthermore, in learning about God’s creation, your child will gain tools and knowledge, expanding opportunities in which he can show love for others. By pairing his knowledge and understanding with compassion and the gifts God bestows upon him, he will be equipped to minister to the physical and spiritual well-being of others in ever expanding ways. Homeschooling gives you increased opportunities to nurture your child’s gifts, knowledge, understanding, compassion, and love for God and others.

Teach your child biblical principles throughout your day together. Apply those teachings to your own life. Put those principles into practice, and you will witness your child gain confidence in his abilities to discern what is right and worthy of watching, listening to, reading, writing, saying, and doing. When your child learns to value God’s take on sin, truth, obedience, and love, these characteristics will be understood and practiced throughout your child’s life.

An active role in shaping your child’s biblical worldview really does make a difference. If you disciple your child in all you teach, your words and actions can help your child develop his own personal relationship with God. Your child will become a critical thinker, better able to make wise choices for himself as he traverses through life. He will gain a deeper understanding of the Lord’s provisions on Earth. Your child will learn how to apply his gained knowledge as he cares for others. As he grows and serves others in the name of Jesus Christ, the influence of his beliefs will be obvious in heart and mind.

The Bible is the compass that guides you to teach your child values and other matters of importance. Therefore, you can look at the Bible as your main guide and incorporate God’s Word throughout your actions, words, and teachings.

Among the teachings in the Bible, we are instructed to walk by the Spirit. Therefore, it is important to teach your child about the fruit of the Spirit. Furthermore, you need to demonstrate what walking with the Spirit looks like throughout your daily life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

A large factor in the language of love is time. You teach your child love when you invest time with him. Since spending time together with your child is particularly important, it is a true gift to have time together each day as you invest in his education. You are your child’s primary person of influence, not only as a parent and caregiver, but also as the main educator in his life.

I admire the close bond that homeschool parents share with their child. Homeschool parents’ knowledge of their child’s needs and abilities is just as apparent as their relentless commitment to help that child. The obvious love and care they pour into their child will strengthen him throughout his life. That love will stand the test of time and echo in the hearts of future generations.

As I read Matthew 25:35–40, I am reminded that we serve God every time we care for others. When we show our love and care for others, not only are we fulfilling the biblical mandate to love our neighbors, we experience boundless joy ourselves. Our efforts have meaning and value. We feel a sense of purpose. Bring your child joy by orchestrating an opportunity for him to serve others. Make an extra effort to tell your child how much you appreciate his kind heart when you notice him helping you or someone else.

I also experience joy when I feel loved, and I feel loved by many here on earth. I also know that God loves me. By teaching your child how much God loves him, you bring him that same joy you feel in knowing God’s love.

You can demonstrate peace through your thankfulness for every physical and emotional part of your life. Be content and thankful for what you have, for God gives you all you need. Though your worldly possessions may be less than those of others, you can and should be happy with the blessings God bestows upon you. Be happy for other people whom God has blessed in other ways.

This principle extends to the people God has placed in your life. Whether a person can fulfill your expectations of how he should be or not, be thankful for what he is able to offer and his impact on your life.

We each have unique and specific roles to play in this world during different seasons of our lives. I do not have the talents of a surgeon or a fireman, but I know God has equipped me with the qualities I need to serve Him well. We need first responders, distributers, and farmers as much as we need parents and children. Humanity would not function well with the whole population doing the same job. Be grateful that God has equipped each of us with our own unique talents.

Thank God for sustaining you, giving you strength to endure, and for growing your faith. Thank Him for working in you and through you as you experience both good and challenging times. Thank Him for expanding your heart and mind. Find peace by being thankful for all God’s provisions, including the people you love, the world you live in, water, air, materials for shelter, and food. If you trust in God, your loving bond with Him will strengthen and the peace you feel will echo into the lives of others around you.

Forbearance is defined as implementing patience, self-control, restraint, and forgiveness as you interact with others. Children learn these virtues from us as they witness us forgive others and lay our worries and woes upon God. Relentless unforgiveness tends to narrow the door to compassion, self-control, and restraint. Unforgiveness also creates a greenhouse that promotes the cultivation of a broken and bitter heart. Keep a bitter heart from hardening into a heart full of hatred, doubt, and fear by teaching your children the value of forgiveness.

Your treatment of your children and others carries significant impact and importance. Embrace interruptions with a grateful heart, continuously interpreting them as opportunities to reach out to someone expressing a need. If you are running late, free up worry through communication. By calling your destination to reschedule or inform them of your delay, you demonstrate constructive ways to manage worry and minimize cavalier decision-making and impulsive behaviors such as speeding. You also teach your child respect for others.

Every experience, whether it is amazing or tough, alters the very fabric of your thoughts, compassion, understanding, and capabilities. With each experience, you develop ever-growing compassion toward others and your eyes open to unique ways in which you can help others. Trust that God will use every experience throughout your life to prepare you to better serve others in some way. Where I have developed a passion to help those experiencing medical trauma or loss, you may have developed a passion to help foster children.