Blog

Homeschooling For The Long Haul: Cultivating Habits for Success

There is a big difference between homeschooling and homeschooling WELL. 

Really stop and think about that. Are you educating your children, or are you educating them WELL? Are you going through the motions, or are you being intentional about schooling (and LIFE) - with the goal of homeschooling for the long haul in mind?

We must create space and time to ensure things of beauty are placed center stage.  We must create time and space to cultivate our own habits of excellence.

We're cultivating beautiful young people, not checking off boxes.

The years go by quickly, and we owe our children an excellent home education.

Getting it done WELL begins with the homeschool parent and their ability to cultivate effective habits.

Homeschooling for the Long Haul

MY HABITS are far more important to the success of our homeschool - because my children will model my habits.

And when all of our habits are worthy and true, our homeschool is more apt to succeed.

I wish someone would have laid out these simple things for me when I started homeschooling. I was too concerned about which books to read, which curriculum to choose, and which co-op to join. I needed to start with these BASIC, SIMPLE things and work from there.

Five Habits for Homeschool Parents

As we discuss these five ways, consider the beautiful words of Charlotte Mason (Volume 1, p. 135): 

Modeling Learning For Children

 

Discipline

This is a big one for me.  What about you?

What does discipline look like for the homeschooling parent?

Do we set a schedule and/or routine and stick to it? Do we get up on time and model the habits necessary for a successful day?

Are we true to our word? If we set a rule for our children, is there an immediate and effective consequence when it is broken?

If we begin a project in our homeschool, do we stick with it and see it through with excellence?

 

Choose an area where you struggle with discipline. Perhaps you lack a consistent morning routine in your home.  Make a vow to yourself to change this. Start small - maybe it is getting up at a set time and making sure everyone is dressed and sitting at the breakfast table by a certain time - then see over time if your children don't notice and respond accordingly.

 A Morning Time with consistently beautiful, inspiring materials has proven to help with the discipline of a good morning routine. 

 

Simplicity

An effective homeschool is one that isn't bogged down in so much "stuff" that children cannot find their math book.

An effective homeschool - one that works for the long haul - is one where children have time and space to discover and appreciate beauty.

A simple homeschool is one where mama knows how to stay in her own lane and doesn't worry about keeping up with what everyone else is doing. 

Homeschooling for the Long Haul

 

Self-Education

Self-Education is of supreme importance for the homeschooling parent. 

Are we constantly modeling a spirit and habit of inquiry? Do we take time to read the classics - especially when we are requiring the same of our children? 

Do we attend conventions or conferences to further our growth? 

Learning doesn't stop for us simply because we are TEACHING. We are the chief learners in our homes!

Some things on this mama's nightstand recently - a mixture of fiction and non-fiction. I love to read and learn and then talk with my children about these things.

We are creating a culture of education. This is important.

Faithfulness

This can be so so difficult.  When we have had a string of bad homeschool weeks and it seems as if our children are just meant to be in "school", it can be daunting to remain faithful to our commitment to homeschool.

When we have "that child" that seems to be testing every boundary we have, faithfulness can elude us.

Do whatever it takes to remain faithful. Remain in the Word. Confide in friends. Put your homeschool on "hold" for a month or so until you can gather the courage to begin again.

Remain faithful and you WILL be rewarded.

When I was a little girl my mother always told me (after I'd had a bad day) that things would look better in the morning. I'm sure maybe you've heard this. Well... it IS true.  God's mercies are new each morning, and sometimes they are new each hour in our homeschool.

His Mercies are New Each Morning - Homeschooling for the Long Haul

 

Being In Community

This one has been the hardest for me in our homeschool journey. 

Finding your homeschooling "tribe" can be difficult.  Have the courage to know when something is working and when it isn't. 

Have the courage to keep seeking out friendships and community until you find the right one.

Community is important.  The support of a community is essential if you are going to homeschool for the long haul.

We cannot homeschool alone. We need friends to lift us up and support us in our journey.  We need a friend to go out to coffee with. We need a group of girlfriends to go away with for the weekend and just LAUGH.  Our children need this, too. They need to see us getting together with families who have similar values and goals. They need to be surrounded by loving, caring adults. 

In my case there were several families who were intentional about building community - and yes, it was WORK, but it has been WORTH IT. 

 

Let's homeschool WELL.  I know you can do it!

 

Download my free eBook - You CAN Homeschool: Encouragement for the Journey.

 

Is there a particular habit YOU struggle with in your efforts to homeschool well? Share it with us in the comments below.

 

 

Turning Back The Homeschool Clock

Our homeschool journey has been full of beautiful memories, powerful learning moments, and tons of laughter and love.

I can say with 100% certainty that home education has been the best path for our family. 

We've enjoyed setting our own schedule, pursuing each child's interests, and immersing our children in all things good and beautiful.  Everything we have done has served a purpose - sometimes not one I could immediately see - but ULTIMATELY I know it all works together for good.

In our new Classical Conversations community I have the joy of getting to know moms who are younger than me - moms who are just starting the homeschool journey.

I am in a new phase of homeschool life. As these moms are worrying about teaching children to read and what math program to choose, we are thinking about the SAT, Latin, and Chemistry!  It gives me a fresh perspective and also makes me think about what I would do as a new homeschool mom.

What if I could turn back the homeschool clock? What would I do differently?

Turning Back the Homeschool Clock: 5 Things I Would Do Differently

I know what you are thinking - it never pays to look back - only forward. I agree with you. In the interest of helping readers, however, I do believe self examination can help those who read this blog. 

As I look back I also see my own shortcomings, the grace that was given to me, and how much my whole family has grown in the process.

So this post not only celebrates our homeschool, but also seeks to point out the ways in which we could have changed and/or learned to make things better.

If I could turn back the homeschool clock I would...

 

Start Homeschooling From Day ONE!

It took us way too long to abandon the ideal of public school! I believe this is because the idea of a public education was deeply embedded in our thinking. We were raised in public schools. I worked in public schools.  We were highly invested in them, until we realized that investment didn't pay off for OUR children.

I had actually been homeschooling my children from birth and just didn't realize it.  I should have had the confidence to forge ahead and keep my sweet ones at home. 

What I say to younger moms is this:

You ARE enough.

You don't need a degree to teach your children.

Don't let society tell you they need to be away from you to thrive.

(As it turns out we had some wonderful preschool and early elementary teachers and also learned some hard lessons in school that helped us decide to homeschool. It all worked out -- but I still wish we'd started sooner!)

 

Be Strict About Math From The Beginning

This might sound contrary to just letting our kids be little - and I'm all for making math fun - but math is a subject that requires consistency and discipline from day one. 

It's extremely hard to back pedal in math - in fact... I think it's impossible.

We waffled between Horizons Math, various math workbooks, living math curricula, and math games. As my knowledge of Classical education increased, I realized that math drills every day, coupled with a good math program are what it takes to produce a student who is SOLID in math.

My youngest benefitted from this knowledge. He has used Saxon Math from the start and he is a good math student. We play games with math and read math storybooks, but the core of our math is sitting down and doing a Saxon lesson EXACTLY as it is prescribed in the book.

(You can throw tomatoes at me if you'd like.)

Over the past eight years we have only used Saxon math with my youngest. We have stressed neatness, diligence, showing your work, and a commitment to doing math every single day. 

I wish I would have done this with my oldest. 

(Side note: my oldest loves Mr. D Math and I am so thankful for his online math courses that clearly have created a successful math student! If you're searching for a math solution and your child is older, this is what I recommend.)

 

Read Aloud MORE to Older Kids!

I read aloud a lot when my children were little. 

(I asked them for this post and they agreed on their five favorite books:  Trumpet of the Swan,  Charlie & The Great Glass Elevator,  The Great Turkey Walk, Robin Hood, and the 26 Fairmount Avenue Series.)

When my oldest hit seventh grade, however, and we began a more structured program in Classical Conversations, I didn't think there was enough TIME to read aloud. This was a big mistake. I should have taken the time and continued to read aloud.

Once again, I learned my lesson after this and we now build time into our day (during Morning Time) to read aloud. This is a cherished time in our homeschool. The past couple of weeks we've been reading The Wednesday Wars and it's been SUCH fun! (Honestly, we've been laughing OUT LOUD as we read this book!) 

I'm amazed at how much my children love to be read to, and how much we laugh and joke about the books throughout the week. 

We're creating memories and connections through our read alouds, and this is especially important with our big kids! 

(Our three recent read alouds:)

Include More Art

Art isn't a subject I'm comfortable teaching. We dabbled in simple art here and there, but I could have done a better job with art instruction - and cultivating a love of art in my children.

We spent some time using Art For Kids, Chalk Pastels, and a few fun Ed Emberly Drawing books, but I would have done MORE. I would have sought out art lessons, carved out more time for art.

When the kids were older I discovered a great series of art appreciation books - and I wish we would have spent more time with those. 

Again, I cannot really turn back the clock, but I can suggest these things to YOU! 

 

RELAX.

It sounds so trite - maybe even oversimplified, right?

Relax. 

Who can relax when you have so many children to take care of - children whose education rests on your shoulders - children who need to get into college one day?

As I look back, however, I realize the importance of letting our children be little and staying in our own lane. Our MOST important job is to raise children who love God, love each other, and love to learn. We are raising our children to be confident, independent, and capable of following their own path.

Believe me, if they don't read until second or third grade they will be OK. If they never take a formal "test" until the sixth or seventh grade they will be OK. You will more than make up for any perceived deficiencies with the love, attention, and wonder you are giving them as you homeschool them. 

Play games with them. Read to them. Go on nature walks. Giggle. Bake. 

It's SO worth it.

As I'm getting ready to graduate one I can assure you that God's grace is sufficient and it's so true -- He fills in the gaps.

 

Look at these children - I have the joy and honor of schooling them. I've poured my heart and soul into them and I've loved (almost!) every minute. Homeschool is a GOOD thing. Aren't we lucky?

 

Turning Back the Homeschool Clock: 5 Things I Would Do Differently

If you could turn back the clock, what would you do differently? 

Leave me a comment below - let's support and encourage each other!

Turning Back the Homeschool Clock: 5 Things I Would Do Differently