A Firm Foundation

When I made the decision to homeschool, I first considered how to lay the foundation.  Everything is built on this foundation, so it is vital to be sure it is firm.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”  ~Matthew 7:24-27

This Bible verse has very powerful applications in many areas, and for Christian homeschoolers, this means God first.   It is so easy to focus on all the latest homeschooling programs, making sure you are meeting the state standards.  But we really need to consider God’s standard.     Kingdom training begins from the moment of birth and continues until your children will begin their own journeys through life.  As parents we need to pray to the Lord that He will guide us and help us face daily decisions and choices.

• Get A Vision.  Set some time and pray with your spouse about the direction your children should go this year.  Consider areas that need to be learned or strengthened.  Are you homeschooling?  If so, do you want to use an integrated program?  Can Dad lead daily family devotions?  If your children go to a traditional school, can you carve out 30 minutes as a family each day for devotions and scripture memory?  I plan my goals for this subject just as I do for math or science.

• Choose Your Bible Curriculum First.  It is really powerful when the Bible curriculum is closely tied with the rest of your studies, as it is with a unit study curriculum.  But even if it isn’t, there are a few exceptional tools I highly recommend, the first being Explorer’s Bible Curriculum (PK-12) and The Singing Bible Cd’s.

• Lead By Example. The way we live our lives and the choices we make are the models that our children will learn from.  Not all is learned from books but most often the important values are learned by example and actions.

• Be Portable And Spontaneous. Use cd’s while you drive them around, use those little minutes to teach object lessons, pray with them nightly, be real with them and don’t be concerned with showing your needs. Allow God to meet those needs right in front of their little eyes.

Talk about them “when you are at home and when you are on the road,  when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”  Deut 6:7

• Commit to Scheduling Regular Time To Study The Bible As A Family.  If you do not plan for this time, you’ll rarely get it.  something else will always come up!  So, whether it’s once a day or once a week, plan on it!

You are called to homeschool, even if your kids go to a traditional school.  We are commanded by scripture to teach our child about spiritual things.  Where the kids receive the rest of their education, well that’s up to you.  Many decide to take on the responsibility of homeschooling as they believe is the best route for their children to learn.  Homeschooling or not, we are commanded by scripture to teach our child about the ways of the Lord.

All families should be having some kind of family devotional time.  Scripture memory verses are necessary (remember how Eve fudged that one?!) and can be used as handwriting practice.  Find a project to do together as a service or outreach.  Use a devotional designed for the dinner table – conversation starters they are called.  Go to church as a family.  Start with something and be consistent.  As you become faithful about one thing, then add another activity from your vision list.

The most important thing is to be consistent.  Training our children to be responsible for their actions and to keep their eyes focused on the walk with God is a great lesson to be taught.  It is important to teach our children to be obedient, to respect authority, and to serve God as well as others.  As a family focus on what is pleasing to God.  When you have done this, you have set the foundational issues that will travel on through generations.

Be blessed,

Maureen :-)

See larger image The Singing Bible (Focus on the Family) (Audio CD) By (author) Elaine Osborne List Price: $19.99 USD New From: $12.28 In Stock Used from: $12.54 In Stock

Maureen Kellis loves homeschooling. She's been educating her four young sons since 2001. Whether at home or roadschooling, she likes to make learning as much fun as possible.

Maureen

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