Considering Homeschooling... Where to Begin?

With children nearing school-age, my friends and I have had this discussion quite often. Private? public? homeschool? In the end, it's what works best for your family, but the conclusion that I've come to is in Matthew 5:13-16. "You are the salt of the Earth...and the light of the world..." If we are to be salt and light to our communities, it would seem we need to be involved in them. However, instead of Christians becoming a part of their communities to influence it (as God instructed Daniel when he was captured and taken to Babylon), we have created our own parallel universe. I don't think that separating ourselves and our children from the world prepares them, or us, to minister to it or to change it.

I agree we do have to be a light to the world but i have yet to find where children have influenced others in God's way. One thing keeps sticking in my mind and that is one bad apple spoils them all! We have to teach out childeren Gods word to get it deep in their hearts before they can grow and become a light to others. On that note i have a freind who home schools her four children and they are very involved in sports and their church and those kids are much more capable to talk to all kinds of people, young and old, because the parents have taken the time to teach them how to respond to people. Just because we home school doesn't mean our children won't know how to interact with others. Another point my husband brought to my attention was that in public school you will never learn time management which is the basis for any success in the world. Time management in jobs or at home are so important. If you are in the flower mound area valley creek church has a huge homeschooling group and the corum deo school is also wonderful i hear. Hope this help!!! Ultimately we all have to do what we feel convicted to do with our children. There's really no wrong answer.We have pretty much decided to put our kids in corum deo flower mound or homeschool. God bless!!! Oh also abbeca curiculum i hear is great!!!(i may have spelled that wrong!)

Hi L.,

Where do you live? There are many homeschool support groups all over the dfw area. There is also a huge homeschool conference every August in Plano where you can view different curriculums, attend classes, talk with vendors, etc.

I will also be happy to answer any questions you have. We have been homeschooling for 9 years now. My oldest is set to graduate this May and my youngest will be in K next year. My youngest 4 children are boys so I have a couple boys close to your boys' ages. My boys are 5, 7, 9, and 13. I also have 2 daughters ages 16 and 17.

My e-mail address is ____@____.com

M.

I know many people that home school that I work with selling Usborne books - they specialize in educational resources and learning kits for all levels. Many consultants join just to buy their own books for home schooling - that is how my Supervisor started. You might consider it or at least get some ideas from their curriculums. Just an idea that has worked for many that I know. My e-mail is ____@____.com and my website is www.ubah.com/P2042.

I am considering homeschooling as well (when my son is old enough!)

Just as long as your children are learning correct material for their age, and they are still involved in extracurricular activities with peers it can be very beneficial. Also, there are conventions you can go to with your children where you can get a lot of materials and peer group information.

Dr. Phil says the same but once the child hits high school age, it is can best for the child to put them back in school.

I suggest looking into homeschool co-ops. I'd never even heard of these until a few years ago. They're kind of a support group in your area of families that homeschool. They all get together a few times a week and each parent will teach a different class. This really helps out later on when they get in high school and are maybe learning things that you don't know so well... because there might be another parent that knows the subject.

Anyway, I think they're a great idea because it keeps the children involved with other kids, but you're still the biggest influence on their education!

Good Luck!