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Most of what I learned in public school K-12, I’ve forgotten. But much of what I learned while homeschooling my children has literally transformed my thinking.

Isn’t it cool how homeschooling gives us another opportunity to be educated?

We learned to appreciate the art and music masters.

My mom played classical music in our home when I was growing up, so I had a bit of exposure to it. But when I taught art and music history at our homeschool co-op, I began to more fully appreciate the contributions made by the classical masters.

Together, we studied great composers such as Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel; Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert; Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, and Rachmaninoff.

We also studied the lives and works of great artists such as Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael; Rembrandt, Monet, Degas; Renoir, Cassatt, and Van Gogh.

Hands-on activities help us retain what we learn.

Taking an introductory look at the development of art and music, we worked with timelines, art notebooks, and postcard-sized prints.

Although the focus of the class was art and music history rather than the mechanics of creating art, I devoted a portion of the course to experimenting with art projects (in keeping with the style and methods of the masters studied).

Our studies established a standard of excellence.

Studying these great masters taught us to appreciate the complexity and skill required to produce great work. It provides a standard against which to judge the quality of other music and art genres.

Because I taught art and music history multiple times, my sons had multiple opportunities to be trained to recognize key works and nuances of style.

We also discussed how art and music possess an underlying worldview. We used Philosophy Adventure to expand our understanding of the history and impact of ideas.

Whenever possible, make learning fun.

After we finished studying a particular group of artists and composers, we played a fun game in class. It pulled together all the different aspects of our learning in a way that challenged and amused.

It was simple, yet effective. We called it the Art & Music History Game.

Here is the way it is played:

1. Students count off (1, 2, 1, 2), form two teams, and take turns representing their team.
2. The player answers a question for the team. A wrong answer gives the opposing team a chance to answer the question.
3. When a player answers correctly, the team earns a point and the player earns the opportunity to answer the next question.
4. There are three types of questions:
   • A famous art print is displayed. Player must name the artist. (Extra point opportunity: Name the title of the piece.)
   • A famous musical composition is played. Player must name the composer.
   • A trivia question related to a composer or artist is asked. Player must answer correctly.

Would you like a sample of this game?

If I hear from enough people, I will dig into my old files and create a downloadable example.

So let me know. Add your name to the waiting list here:

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If you’re looking for engaging resources to teach critical thinking from a biblical worldview, visit our store!

When the time came to teach my two young sons how to read, my homeschool mentor/dear friend Beth recommended I keep things simple.

(Affiliate links may have been used in this post. To read our full disclaimer, click here.)

She offered to let me borrow her copy of Phyllis Schlafly’s phonics-based First Reader.

She had used the First Reader to teach her children how to read and had shared it with several families before offering it to me.

(The colorful hardcover was a bit tattered by the time we used it.)

NEW TERRITORY

Back then, if you had asked me whether I planned to use a phonics-based or sight-words approach, I would have responded with a blank stare.

All of this teaching stuff was still new to me.

But homeschooling my sons has since taught me the importance of seizing every opportunity to help them develop critical thinking skills—starting with phonics.

HOW THEY LEARN CAN BE AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT THEY LEARN

According to a study performed by Stanford University Professor Bruce McCandliss, the way students focus their attention during learning actually has a profound impact on what they learn.

He explains:

Beginning readers who focus on letter-sound relationships, or phonics, instead of trying to learn whole words, increase activity in the area of their brains best wired for reading.

Teaching your children to sound out a word “sparks more optimal brain circuitry than instructing them to memorize the word….”

You can think of phonics as a sort of mental calisthenics.

Just as a gymnastic exercise can build physical strength, the time your child works to decode one word can strengthen his or her ability to decode the next.

YES, BUT CAN THEY SIT STILL LONG ENOUGH TO LEARN?

Beth gave us the perfect book. But my sons had energy. Lots of energy.

(They were little boys, after all.)

Instead of sitting beside me on the couch, carefully sounding out words … they squirmed and fidgeted, eyes everywhere but on the page.

I got frustrated.

They responded in kind.

Our lovely lesson deteriorated into an unpleasant conflict.

The Power of the Fidget Ball

After a few sharp words (and a few tears—both theirs and mine), I discovered a secret to helping my sons concentrate during our reading lessons.

Years before fidget-spinners came on the scene, I found the fidget ball!

When I put that ball in my firstborn son’s hand, all his pent-up energy was channeled into squeezing it.

He suddenly gained the ability to focus on sounding out words. And, before long, he was starting to read. (It worked with his younger brother, too.)

You can use any ball that fits into your child’s hand. The one we used was a squishy, rubbery ball like this.

A SMALL THING CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Our experience with the First Reader and the fidget ball taught me that sometimes a small thing can make a big difference.

I learned to become a student of my children. Whenever possible, I worked with rather than against their natural, God-given temperaments.

Rather than expect my energetic sons to bottle up their energy, we simply redirected it.

SEIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY

Our time with our children is so short. The world we will release them into is filled with challenges and temptations. Let’s seize every opportunity train them to be critical thinkers.

Build their mental muscles from the start with phonics.

♦ ♦ ♦

A Creative Use For Our Bedtime Story

Do you have a bedtime routine for your little ones?

One mother shared with us that she uses our bedtime story, I’d Rather Be Your Mommy, as a first reader for her child.

Her child is learning to read by reciting the text!

Affectionately nicknamed “The Mommy Book,” it encourages Mom by emphasizing the importance of her job—and it repeatedly tells her children how much she loves them.

We love her creative use of our storybook.

Get The Mommy Book >>

Cuddling together on the couch… exploring new worlds through the pages of story… learning significant character lessons through noble (or ignoble) characters….

Stories can connect us.

Seize these fleeting moments.

You’ve probably heard this before. In fact, it might even be haunting you. It haunted me (because it’s true):

“The days are long, but the years are short.”

 Our children grow up in a twinkling!

That’s why, whenever we can, we need to seize the moment to make a memory—a lasting imprint upon our child’s heart.

BEDTIME STORIES

Do you have a bedtime routine for your littles? Reading a favorite story at bedtime can give young children a sense of stability and security.

I’d Rather Be Your Mommy is a bedtime story that celebrates motherhood and tells your little ones how much you love being their mommy.

But we shouldn’t stop reading to our children just because they get older. We never outgrow the ability to enjoy a good read-aloud.

3 Considerations Related to Storytime

I wish I had read more stories to my sons while they were little. Storytime was a special time. Intimate. Sweet.

Although I didn’t read aloud to my sons nearly as much as I wish I had, my husband read lots of wonderful books to them like:

• The Chronicles of Narnia
• The Hobbit
• Lord of the Rings
• The Great Divorce

Great stories can have a profound and lasting impact.

Observing the imprint those stories left upon my sons’ hearts, I have three suggestions:

#1 – Choose your stories carefully.

There is one story in particular that I read to our sons that left its mark on us.

I’m not sure how or why I ended up with a copy of The Wise Woman, George MacDonald’s enchanting fable. Nor can I say for certain what prompted me to select it as a family read-aloud.

But it has earned a place among our family favorites.

I am incredibly grateful that my sons and I shared the adventures of MacDonald’s memorable characters: the Wise Woman, Rosamond, and Agnes.

#2 – Teach Character Through Stories.

Through The Wise Woman, we saw pride unmasked for the hideous sin that it is, and we saw the consequences of selfishness clearly displayed in the lives of two young girls.

We also witnessed the magnificent character transformation of a spoiled brat.

(I won’t say more in case you want to read the story for yourself.)

#3 – Inspire creativity through stories.

Stories can unleash your children’s imagination.

There’s an ongoing argument as to whether books or movies are superior.

Although I appreciate the unique features of a well-crafted film, I’m confident that reading a well-written book engages more brain power.

You can build on that engagement by encouraging your children to take a scene from a book and write their own ending.

That’s what we did with some of the exercises in Creative Freewriting Adventure.

These exercises take the pressure off the writing process and let students simply have fun. You can try one of these exercises with your kids.

Whether you’re reading a bedtime story again and again to a toddler, snuggling close and reading to young children, or piling on the couch with older children to read a classic tale, you won’t regret investing in storytime.

It’s one activity that can draw your family together, create memories, and spark meaningful conversations.

What book will you read to your children next?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could experience stress-free homeschooling?

Stress. It’s often linked to anxiety and fear. It can make your heart race, palms sweat, and stomach churn.

Stress is painful.

We desperately want to escape it, but some stress is unavoidable…perhaps even necessary. (I would even go as far as to say that some stress is good.)

The Power of Perspective

One writer compared stress to the tension on a stringed instrument: Too much tension, and the strings snap. But without tension, there is no music—only a dull, raspy sound.

Is there a way we can use stress to “make music” with our lives rather than become so overwhelmed by it that we “snap”?

The key lies in perspective.

What does Scripture say about stress?

As you may know, our company provides resources that teach “critical thinking from a biblical worldview.” So, naturally, I approach this topic from a biblical perspective.

If you equate stress with fear, Scripture has a lot to say about it. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:13, Psalm 34:4 are a few verses that may encourage you.).

“Fear not!” is repeated throughout the Bible. It appears frequently enough to indicate that fear is a real problem.

If you struggle with fear, you are not alone.

My worst homeschooling-related stress was provoked by fear:

• fear of ruining my children’s lives
• fear that my sons would suffer because of my inadequacies
• fear that they wouldn’t be prepared for life.

Have you ever struggled with similar fears?

If so, you may be encouraged by an article on fear that I wrote for the 2016 Annual Print Edition of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. (You can find it here.)

You might also be interested in our blog series titled, “Overcoming Your Greatest Fear About Homeschooling.”

The Hidden Blessings of Stress

How we respond can determine whether we will transform painful stress into productive stress.

When fear motivated me to evaluate our homeschool progress and consider where we needed to improve, the subsequent insights and course corrections were a blessing.

It doesn’t feel good to be in a state of desperation, but when fear motivates me to pray and humbly ask for God’s help, I’ve been amazed by the way God has graciously answered my prayers!

Put Stress to Work.

Stress-free homeschooling may not be possible, but we can put stress to work for us. When stress moves us toward reflection and prayer, blessings follow.

So, when you feel your pulse picking up, your palms getting clammy, or your belly begin to ache—take a deep breath and pray!

Pray. Trust that He has heard you. Then do whatever you can right now to make the best use of this day that the Lord has made—knowing that:

• His strength is made perfect in your weakness.
• He is trustworthy and knows what is best.
• He is for you.

Rest in Him, dear friend.

Struggling to make most of your time?

Don’t Eat That Frog — A Liberating Look At Time Management Strategies gives you a plan to win the battle! Sign-up below to get a FREE cheat sheet with five of the “FROG” strategies:

What keeps you up nights? Do you find yourself fighting to overcome fear? Do you ever lie awake wondering whether you are equipped to educate your children?

Do you wonder whether you are adequately preparing them for life? How will they handle interacting with the world?

Will they be ready for college? Will they find a spouse?

If you find yourself asking these questions (and sometimes, figuratively speaking, biting your nails), you’re in good company.

What is your greatest fear about homeschooling?

I recently asked the question on social media: “What is your greatest fear about homeschooling?”

Within minutes, I received a rush of heartfelt responses. It became clear from the comments that many parents suffer trepidation. A few fears repeatedly surfaced.

I was particularly touched by one mom who asked,“It’s obvious that we all have the same fears, but what are we going to do about it?”

Her question moved me to pray … and then ask a few trusted homeschool parents and graduates how they would encourage homeschooling parents struggling with fear.

If you struggle, I pray their words encourage you and help you overcome your fears.

Let’s tackle three of these terrors, beginning with…

Fear That You Are Not Equipped to Educate

“Don’t you need a teaching degree to do that?” Have you heard that question yet?

Most of us encounter family members or “friends” who are highly critical of homeschooling. They cross-examine us on our credentials and leave us second-guessing whether we have what it takes to teach.

Yet homeschool families today have countless options for curricula, co-ops, and conferences. Any academic inadequacy can be effectively addressed.

And perhaps awareness of our inadequacies can be one of our greatest assets.

Hillary, who has homeschooled for more than a decade and has three homeschool graduates in college, talks about her experience:

“I’ve had days when I felt very inadequate. Yet, when I confess my weakness, God steps in and shows up in a big way!

Remember that your kids are really on loan to you from your heavenly Father.  He has the wisdom we lack and just wants us to ask Him for it.”

Fear That Your Mistakes Will Harm Your Children

Sometimes the responsibility that accompanies homeschooling can feel overwhelming. Many parents expressed concern that mistakes they make will have dire consequences for their children.

Jane, who has three homeschool graduates and is still educating her youngest child, reminds us:

“God chose us to be our children’s parents.  He knows what our children need, and He also knows that we will make mistakes.

Do we tend to cry out to Him when everything is peachy?  Or do we turn to Him in the midst of our trials?

Maybe it is through our mistakes that our children (and we, ourselves) will actually be drawn closer to God.”

Fear That You’re Leaving Too Many Gaps!

If you ever worried about how can you possibly teach your children everything they need to learn, be comforted by these words from a certified-public-school-teacher-turned-homeschooler:

“Schools don’t teach our kids enough and neither do we.  There are gaps everywhere—and that is fine.

What we need to do is teach our children how to learn and help them love learning so it becomes their lifelong habit.

Then, when they encounter something they need to learn, they will have the tools to figure out how to learn it for themselves.”

What These Fears Might Really Be About….

My homeschool mentor, Beth, observed that all parents struggle with many of these fears—not just homeschoolers. She explained:

“During my most challenging times when I homeschooled, when I wanted to quit and call the school bus, I recognized that often the problem had nothing to do with academic education…and everything to do with our parent/child relationship or my own weakness or sin.

Thus, before any schooling method could be effective, that relationship problem or character issue needed to be addressed.”

Final Thoughts — You Are Equipped To Educate

Homeschooling provides a safe environment in which to develop your children’s character, as well as your own. Consider these wise words from homeschool graduate, Renee:

“Homeschooling in no way guarantees salvation or success. Those things belong to the Lord.

Don’t homeschool for results.

Homeschool as a testimony to your children of your love for God and for them, as a testimony to others of your sincerity in your faith, and as a testimony to God of your dedication to Him.

There may be times you feel inadequate, or like all your attempts and work is futile, but in Christ you are more than enough. Through Him, you are building the Kingdom of God through your day-to-day time with your children.”

Fear not, dear parent! You can trust the One who is able to equip you.

Rest in the knowledge that He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him.

This article was originally published in the Annual Print Edition of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Copyright 2016, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC.

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Saved From Myself

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,

prone to leave the God I love….

As I read these words, my heart breaks. Much as I wish it was otherwise, I know it is true.

Why would I leave you, Lord Jesus? You hold the keys to all I need and truly want. And yet, were I not tethered to You, I might be lured away forever by temptations that lead only to destruction.

…

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