Thinking about homeschooling? For families living in a small space, the idea of adding all the school paraphernalia might be a little daunting. Does homeschooling only work for the extremely organized family? Today on Home School Heartbeat, HSLDA President Mike Smith and author Melissa Morgan talk about ways to tailor your homeschool program to fit your own family.
Mike Smith:
Melissa, some of our listeners may be thinking about homeschooling, but don’t know where to start. Do you have any advice for them?
Melissa Morgan:
Most parents will have practical concerns, such as financial, legal requirements. Other concerns are just how to find the patience and organization to homeschool. That may seem overwhelming at first, so I suggest you focus on behavior and character and keep educational and behavior goals simple. Let your family know up front that you need everyone’s help. You can’t do it all by yourself. Write down your goals and share them with your kids. Once they know what is expected of them, they will probably surprise you as they begin to mature and grow. Celebrate progress even if it’s small, no matter how small. In the long run, homeschooling can create more closeness in family relationships as you get away from peer pressure in the school. The Bible talks about patience as being one of the fruits of the spirit, not one of the gifts of the spirit, is one thing I remind myself. It also takes a lot of effort to get fruit, like patience, to grow. Patience is also like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it will get.
Mike:
Well thank you, Melissa, for being with us this week. Your counsel is invaluable. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
