As a homeschool grad, people ask me all the time if I'm glad I was homeschooled. Though I've given a wide variety of reasons I'm thankful I was, I have a new favorite answer after reading Kate's powerful post.  I may just start saying that homeschooling meant that I got to be the prettiest girl in the world.

Yes, homeschooling meant I got to be beautiful ;).

But more than that, homeschooling meant the voices speaking into my life most often and most closely were the voices of my parents and the truth of God's word.

What do you want to speak into your children's lives? Whom do you want to do the speaking? What truths do you want burned deep into their impressionable minds? What truths will they try out in the world as they grow?

I'm not advocating that we totally shelter our children from the world. I'm simply saying that the chance to be the primary voice in your children's lives is a true gift.

You act as a guide as they come to understand the myriad of perspectives they'll encounter in life.

As you whisper life-giving messages, you are creating a soundtrack for their hearts. You speak melodies of truth that soar and inspire, bolster courage and shape character. You are giving them a trusted voice of one who knows them and loves them unconditionally and most of all, you are pointing them to One who can always be trusted.

I wrote this letter for my little daughter this week as I prayed for her and thought about making our homeschool a place where she can thrive.  I long to engrave on her heart some truths that will stick with her for life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Daughter,

When you don't know which voice to listen to, remember this:

I laughed to myself today as I watched you tramp ahead in hot pink snow boots with your Sunday dress. You wanted to dress yourself. Your independence and confidence is so beautiful. You are not perfect, but you are perfectly loved.

I pray your homeschool years give you a chance to marinate in that love a little more, undistracted.

In "class," you don't have to be that percentage of girls who rarely raise their hands. You have questions and ideas and an open forum—right here on the couch —to get used to expressing yourself well.

You don't just yet have "mean girls" distracting you from learning as they constantly tell you their estimation of your value.

You don't have anyone sneering that "girls don't like science" when you ask to do one more experiment, or calling you a nerd for enjoying math or bringing home that huge stack of library books. You are getting to set your own normal without everyone dictating that for you.

You're going to hear a lot of voices in the course of your lifetime, lots of opinions about who you are, if you are good enough, what you should be, think, and do.  People will offer acceptance and rejection. You will feel deep feelings. You will have victories and hard days.

You will have to choose which voices and messages you will allow to soak beneath the surface.

How will you decide who to trust?  What is your litmus test for truth? Where will you get your foundational ideas about who you are and why you are in this world? What will you pour yourself into to accomplish in this life? What matters most of all? What can you not live without?

These can be hard questions. I pray you will find answers in solid places and weigh carefully the voices you choose to listen to. My prayer is that right now, in your early days, you learn what it means to be fully known and fully loved.

I can't answer every question you will encounter in a lifetime, but I pray I can point you to the source of truth and introduce you to the Voice you can always trust.

There will be mean girls and there will be heart ache, but I pray you go into those situations knowing without a doubt that love conquers all, that you have innate worth and beauty, that you are cherished and treasured and so are those around you. We're building that foundation now, together.

That's why I'm so glad that we are going through this homeschooling journey side by side. I'm making it my mission to speak life-giving words to you each day. To demonstrate your value through the way I spend time with you and listen to you. I won't do this perfectly, but I love you more than anyone in this world and will do my best to help you thrive.

I pray you'll get strong and confident and know yourself as you serve alongside your family and process the hurts of the world with people who can talk it out with you. I pray you will enter your place in the world as a woman who can make an impact.

You'll have the confidence to consider others before yourself because someone else has already considered you of immeasurable value. You don't have to strive and fight for that love and attention. You've got it overflowing.

Through homeschooling, we have a few more hours together in these days that are rushing past so fast. Time to whisper those truths and give you a place for a little while where you are free to flourish just as you are.

You are loved,
Mom

(You can read parts 1-3 of this series here: The Gift of Your Presence, The Gift of Godly Heroes, and The Gift of Play.)

Some educators seem to suggest: “Learning is painful. Get used to it.” They expect kids to learn to grit their teeth and persevere.

And yes, education may be hard. Perseverance  is a valuable skill.

But should that be our starting point with education?

I say – no way!

Instead, don’t we want our children to believe something like this?

The world is a fascinating place.

I want to learn about it.

I know from experience that I can learn new things and gain new skills.

I will persevere and learn because I want to and I know I can

"Trevor Y delights in his real-life study of frogs and tadpoles. As his mom says, Sonlight has given their family the gift of the love of learning!"

Children who believe this are set up well for life. They know that they can achieve what they set their minds to. They know that learning is sometimes hard work, but that it pays great dividends.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: No educational program can possibly teach children all they need to know for life by age 18. So instead we better give them a great foundation and help them love learning!

How do we do that? Well, God made our children with an inborn sense of curiosity. Just watch a toddler’s drive to learn about the world around her. That curiosity doesn’t have to go away as children grow. We can notice and nurture it.

And as we nurture our children’s curiosity, we can help them gain confidence in their abilities.

Every time our children learn a new skill and we let them use it, they internalize an important self-message: I can do things.

That’s why I want children to have positive experiences with learning. I want them to internalize the delight of mastering new skills, the wonder of discovering new things.

So how do we achieve this? We’ve designed Sonlight’s entire program in order to help students love to learn. Instead of relying on worksheets, textbooks and flashcards, we use gripping stories to teach children about the world. As they listen to Mom or Dad read out loud, many kids don’t even know they’re “doing school,” but they are in fact learning by leaps and bounds. Intriguing? You can read more about How Literature-Rich Homeschooling Awakens Your Child’s Natural Passion for Learning.

When we work with children’s innate desires to learn, we reinforce important lessons that will carry them forward throughout the years: learning is worthwhile, and they can do it.

Sure, even children who love to learn will have hard days. They will struggle to learn some things. They may cry over a math concept or get angry when they receive constructive criticism on a writing assignment.

But let’s not start with the painful side of learning. Let’s not pretend that “painful learning” will be the primary feature of their education. Let’s start with the beauty of learning, with children’s natural desires to explore and figure things out.

Then when the hard stuff starts to come, they’ll know what to do with it. And you will have the joy of teaching children who know from experience that learning is exciting and that they can do it. That’s a far easier task than “force-feeding” children an education they just don’t want.

Sonlight can help you bless your children with a love of learning. You can discover how to love your homeschool journey. You can set your children on a trajectory of life-long learning. I can’t wait to see how God moves in your children’s lives. Because children who love the Lord and love to learn will grow up to change the world!

Blessings to you and yours,

Sarita

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When parents mention they are thinking about homeschooling, the most common question they hear is “But what about socialization?”

I think this question means, “How will your children know how to act around others, if they only interact with your family all day?”

The quick response is: Between church, sports, clubs, co-ops, and friends, homeschooling offers children many opportunities to be around others. This is true of all the homeschoolers I have known.

Another Meaning of Socialize

However, there’s a second meaning to socialize, that you, as a homeschooling parent, might appreciate knowing. That definition of socialize is to teach people to act like their social group wants.

That may not be the clearest definition, but basically, socialization in this context means to teach someone to act like their peers. It means a second grader teaching another second grader to act like a second grader.

Most parents don't really want their children getting behavioral cues from other children. They prefer that adults model behavior for their children—free of bullying, silly talk, and put-downs.

Three Stories of Homeschool Socialization

To make my point more practical and understandable, let me give you three quick stories about homeschool socialization.

1. With the Librarian

At one point, my Dad was talking to a librarian. "I can always tell when homeschooled children come in," she said. "Most kids shuffle up to my desk and simply declare, 'I need some help' or some such. They don't care if I'm preoccupied at the moment. They simply demand. Homeschooled kids walk up to my desk and wait quietly until I look up. 'Excuse me,' they will say. 'Can you help me with _____?' They are so polite!"

2. With the Coach

Another illustration: my Mom walked into the pool area where my younger sister was completing swim practice. Jonelle was talking with the coach. After their conversation ended, the coach turned to Mom and could hardly contain his smile. As Jonelle walked off to gather her things, he burst out to Mom: "I can't believe it! Your daughter . . . she talks to me as if she were an adult! So much poise! So polite! So . . . self-confident!"At that time, Jonelle was maybe eight years old. She barely came up to his waist. And yet she knew, innately, how to interact with a man probably 30 years her senior.

3. With the Curator

At a family reunion, a dolphin enthusiast watched my extended family interact. "You homeschool, don't you?" she said. "I can always tell."Her comment mystified me at the time, but when I met her husband, a marine expert, a few days later, he gave me a little insight. My extended family was examining the displays at the small museum he ran, asking him questions, giving exuberant attention to artifacts and animals. He said, "My wife must have loved you."And I realized: we were all engaged with the experience—grandparents, parents, children. We were all interested.

So when the question arises, “But what about socialization?” you can say, “I get to socialize my children! I get to integrate them into my life. They get to observe how I behave and learn what mature, adult interactions look like. It’s such an exciting opportunity for our whole family.”

That's homeschooling!

Curious to see what this type of education might look like for your family? Go to SmoothCourse to explore your options.

The post A Homeschooling Benefit: You are the One to Socialize Your Children! appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

As we approached the end of our homeschool year, I did what all homeschooling moms do—I considered which curriculum to select for the next school year.

In my household the end of the school year is a time of reflection to evaluate what is working well on an individual basis for all four of my kids, thinking about the areas that need improvement for each one. It is a time to implement new methods, add subjects, or subtract activities. I love the end of the school year because it is like a fresh slate, but it can also be rather stressful to wade through.  

We had a great school year with Sonlight, so why change things?

We loved having Sonlight as the foundation of our homeschool this year. My youngest two kids listened in on the readers they found interesting while they played with LEGO nearby. It worked out well.

This situation, though, was one thing I wanted to change for the upcoming year. I didn’t want my youngest two always tagging along with their older siblings' literature. I wanted them to have history and geography books that spoke to them—books that had colorful pictures and wonderful meanings. At the same time I wanted my older two to be challenged by more advanced storylines and to dig deeper into history. 

How could I chose one program that would meet the needs of all four of my children, meeting them each precisely at their own level?

Overwhelmed with Options

I asked my fellow homeschooling friends who were in similar situations, and their advice lead me down a curriculum rabbit hole. Any other mother out there who has fallen down this rabbit hole knows just how overwhelming it can be. There are so many choices. They can all look appealing.

My children were born within a four-year time span, and I was on the hunt for a single, core curriculum that would capture the attention of all of them at once. I was looking for something challenging enough for my fifth grader that wasn’t going to be over the head of my Kindergartner. 

Leaving Sonlight

After hours of research, I finally found my solution, and while I was sad to leave Sonlight, I truly thought this new curriculum was the answer.

I placed my order with the other company, received my package, and was not happy. I realized quickly that I was going to have to spend a ton of time fleshing out the program I had purchased:

• developing projects for my older kids to achieve the depth I hoped for
• hunting down booklists and reading dozens of novels and biographies in advance to verify the content
• turning our weekly library runs into work instead of fun outings with my kids

I was going to have to spend a lot of time doing this, time that would reduce my freedom to go where the wind takes us. I did not want that. After I sent it back, I knew that my heart was still with Sonlight and I needed to return to what worked so wonderfully this past year—the curriculum that offered us structure with freedom.

Because if it isn’t broken, why fix it? 

Ordering Sonlight Again

But could I really find the time to do two programs with my four kids? That’s a lot of reading! Ultimately, yes, I resolved myself to doing two different History / Bible / Literature (HBL) programs from Sonlight:

1. Level D, Intro to American History, Year 1 of 2 for my older two
2. Level A, Intro to the World: Cultures for my younger two 

I thought about creative ways to incorporate my older kids into the Read-Alouds for the younger kids. I also decided to reserve a few readers as a bedtime reading for the whole family. I finally felt like I could make this work; I was getting excited!

Why I Came Back to Sonlight

The big reasons I came back to Sonlight are simple but very significant. In a nutshell, Sonlight helps me maximize my time and be the very best teacher I can be for my kids.

I appreciate all these assurances even more after momentarily leaving Sonlight:

• having every single book I will need for the entire school year in one place
• having a road map to follow in my Instructor’s Guides
• knowing ahead of time every book they read is going to be safe and age appropriate
• knowing that all of the readers correlate to the history lessons each week
• knowing that God's character is reflected in everything we read
• knowing they will be fascinated by history
• knowing they love to read 
• knowing I will be less stressed with planning lessons
• knowing I won't have to spend time scouring for resources

We are heading into our next school year more excited than ever. Our books have arrived and are waiting for us on our shelves! I am so thankful I came back to what I know works. Actually, Sonlight not only works, it provides us with more time in our homeschool days to experience the freedom we desire!  There is no denying we will be reading a lot, but we cannot wait!

We welcome you to come back to Sonlight just like Ashlee did. Find your freedom with a fully planned curriculum, based on high quality literature. Get our latest catalog here.

The post I Came Back to Sonlight Because I Love My Freedom appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Dear homeschool mom, you will never regret homeschooling your child.

I don't know the reasons why you chose to homeschool your child, but I imagine they aren't too far from mine. At the core, I want more for my children. I want the best I can offer them and the best God has for them. I'm sure you do, too.

But to offer that to them through homeschooling requires sacrifices. The biggest one for me was learning to be selfless.  I left my career and stepped back from full-time ministry as a pastor to care for the most important flock God has ever entrusted me with—my children.

It wasn't easy. It was painful at first. I was insecure. I questioned if the sacrifice was worthy. But day after day, I see the fruits of homeschooling and am convinced that the pain, insecurity, and sacrifice is worth it. Here are four reasons why you and I will never regret homeschooling.

1. You Will Never Regret Time Spent With Your Children

The gift of time is irreversible. Although we have time right now, we don't know if we will have it tomorrow. The Bible says our lives are but a vapor (James 4:13-14).

As a mom, you fully understand what it feels like to want to go back in time but realize that you can't. You have looked at your growing children in amazement.

• Where is the baby I was rocking just months ago?
• What happened to the toddler who was here yesterday?
• Who is this child saying such wise things and understanding adult concepts?
• Who is this teenager learning to drive a car?!

Time with our children today is the most precious gift we can ever have.

When you homeschool, you get to claim back more of their fleeting childhood years because you spend more time together.

2. You Will Never Regret the Family Bond that Homeschooling Provides

In these past five years, I've seen my children becoming best friends. They truly have each other's back. They have become a team—a beautiful team, always willing to help each other. Yes, they have their not-so-loving moments, too, but these have become rare moments in our house.

I also see how my heart is complete with them around me all day.

To the mom who is reading this now, thinking she can't be around her kids 24/7 and remain sane, I want to admit that it is not easy some days. But I've become a better mom, and a better person, because of it. Homeschooling is God's sandpaper, I heard once. It's true!

"Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:14

Let love be the core of your homeschool and the glue that binds your family together. The family bond is one more reason you will never regret homeschooling.

3. You Will Never Regret Building Strong Faith and Values 

Homeschooling is discipleship. It is not just academics but an opportunity to teach your child as a whole person, investing in their faith and character training. You, homeschool parent, are their greatest role model. As you teach your children day in and day out, they are watching your actions, reactions, and words—learning from your example as much as from your instruction.

There is no greater mission for a parent than to fulfill the greatest of all commandments.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." - Deutoronomy 6:4-9.

Faith building is our ultimate priority in the lives of our children and another reason you will never regret homeschooling your children.

4. You Will Never Regret Time Invested In Their Custom-Made Education

If you have more than one child, you are keenly aware that each child is unique in personality, in preferences, and in they way they learn.

1. I have a little engineer who spends most of his time building. He loves math and hates writing although he loves reading.
2. I have a ballerina who will dance her way around the house doing pirouettes. She loves music, playing the piano, singing, doing crafts, and writing her own stories.
3. And I also have the future medical doctor of the house. She is only five years old but absolutely loves all things science and is fascinated by the human body.

Becoming a student of my children enables me to customize their education in a way that delights them. And I get to learn more about them and love them in fresh ways as I see new facets of their personalities.

Last year I wrote a list of 31 reasons I love homeschooling. Having that list handy reminds me why I started and why this is the best decision I have ever made for my family. Have you ever made a list of all of your reasons for homeschooling—why you love it and why you made this decision for your family? I am sure if you do, you will find your very own reasons to never regret homeschooling.

Take advantage of our 100% guarantee. No other homeschooling company can match our Love to Learn, Love to Teach promise. You can order with confidence that either you will have a great year, or you will get a full refund.

The post 4 Reasons You Will Never Regret Homeschooling appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

I’m a second-generation homeschooler, so I’ve heard questions people ask homeschoolers for as long as I can remember. Curiosity comes in waves, and some of the most commonly asked topics tend to evolve over the years. A few questions, though, persist. Perhaps you, too, are wondering

• “What about college?”, or
• “But what about socialization?”

First of all, a quick spoiler alert: colleges love homeschoolers. They really do! And while many of the academic questions about home education have been answered in big ways over the years, the socialization myth lives on. This is simultaneously fascinating and confusing to me.

The Socialization Question Relies on an Incorrect Belief About the Public School System

Homeschooling has been fairly mainstream in the United States for some time now, at least long enough that many people have likely met not just a homeschooled kindergartner but also a homeschool graduate who’s now a likable, employed, successful, and well-adjusted adult.

Yet for whatever reason, the fears and myths surrounding the socialization question persist. Why is this? What cultural influences drive this question?

At its root, the socialization question relies on the ingrained—but inaccurate—belief that no shy, dysfunctional, or socially awkward child or adult ever emerged from the public school system.

Let’s think about that for a second. Is it really true that traditional brick-and-mortar education is the antidote for social dysfunction? Of course not! The socialization question itself reveals a clear double standard at play. When a disturbed individual surfaces on the news (night after night, in every local new station in the country), no one ever reports that the socialization practices of the public system are flawed and need to be changed.

The Socialization Question Relies on an Incorrect Perception of When Socialization Occurs

It’s easy at times to hold on to an idyllic view of the traditional classroom:

• a caring teacher
• a loving group of friends
• everyone’s individual needs being met
• all the educational opportunities we could dream of

Yet when we break down traditional education and look at it with a realistic lens in light of the socialization question, how much socialization—conversing, bonding, and making friends—is actually happening at a classroom level?

The truth is, as anyone who’s ever helped in a room full of young students can attest, teachers constantly remind students to stop talking, be quiet, and listen.

Yes, listening is a valuable skill, but when the classroom is held up as the gold standard for forming friendship and relationships, things simply don’t add up. In reality, most true socialization in school does not happen in a classroom, but during the fringe times of schooling:

• at recess (which are dwindling at an alarming rate in US schools)
• on class outings and field trips
• during extra curricular activities

Homeschool parents can offer their children all this—and much, much more—due to the tremendous scheduling flexibility which homeschool offers. While traditionally educated children are sitting in a desk next to same-age peers, homeschooled children have the chance to be plugged in to a wide range of mixed-age experiences, including

• field trips
• travel
• group music lessons
• specialized classes
• sports leagues
• scouting groups
• internships
• clubs
• camps
• job shadowing

The Socialization Question Relies on an Incorrect and Narrow Definition of Socialization Itself

When my daughter was three, she carried on a vibrant conversation with the stranger across the picnic table at the park. “She speaks so well,” exclaimed the woman, turning toward me. “Where does she go to daycare?” When I explained I stayed at home with my daughter instead of sending her to daycare, the woman was shocked, exclaiming, “Then how did she learn to talk?” (I tried not to take it personally; myths tend to persist in the face of the facts.)

Although it defies logic, some people—like the woman I met at the park—continue to believe a group of extremely young, babbling, pre-verbal, children are better qualified to teach language through interaction than a verbal adult.

But much of this pervasive mindset stems from believing the public school system’s very narrow definition of socialization: interaction between peers born the same year. Due to this limiting view, some people have never thought of interaction outside this narrow age range as legitimate socialization.

The truth is, the traditional model of education—and the subsequent narrow definition of socialization—actually widens the gap between generations, resulting in more social awkwardness.

Think about it. Traditionally-schooled kids spend the majority of each six-hour school day around only those children who are close in age. They tend to initiate conversation and seek friendship primarily within that range.

Homeschooled kids, on the other hand, regularly converse with everyone from the elderly to the very young—not just same-age peers. As a result, homeschoolers are far more comfortable interacting with a wider range of humanity than the average age-segregated student.  And the natural flow of multi-generational interaction prevalent in homeschooling, too, far more closely resembles real life—and real life workplaces—than does a traditional school setting.

So take heart, friends, especially if you’re just beginning this home education journey. Be empowered and encouraged in the face of ill-informed “But what about socialization?” questions. These doubts are flawed at the very root, based on

• incorrect beliefs about the public school system,
• incorrect perceptions of when socialization occurs, and
• incorrect and narrow definitions of socialization itself.

Non-traditional education bypasses these pitfalls, and allows for a wide range of (true!) socialization.

There’s no question. Homeschooling prepares kids very well for the real world.

When you buy from Sonlight, you get a great product that produces proven results. To learn more about the perks of shopping with Sonlight, visit Sonlight Cares.

The post A Thoughtful Exposé of the "What About Socialization?" Question appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Several years ago, my son asked if he could listen to music while he did his math. He didn’t want soothing background to muffle other noises or even some upbeat classical tunes to keep him energized—either of which would have made sense to me. No, he wanted dance music, the kind he likes to sing along to.

Frustrated that he wouldn’t just buckle down and get his work done, I told him no, but that he could listen to his music as soon as he finished his math. He continued to periodically make this request over a few weeks’ time, and I continued to be annoyed.

Proving I’m Right

One day I decided it was time to prove my point, to show him once and for all how distracting that music would be for him. He was convinced it wouldn’t be, but I knew better.

I set a timer and let him listen for 20 minutes; he had to use earbuds so he wouldn’t disrupt his siblings. He cracked open his Horizons math workbook, and I showed him how much of the lesson I expected him to have done during that time—an amount I knew he could do without distractions.

Learning I’m Wrong

Twenty minutes later the timer sounded, and I discovered he’d done far more than I expected him to. Convinced it was a fluke, I set the timer again. I assumed that he had  worked incredibly hard to tune out the music just to prove me wrong and earn the privilege of listening to his upbeat music.

Yet the same thing happened several more times over the course of a week. It turns out this particular kid does math better than I ever anticipated while listening to loud, fast, music with vocals.

Battles about dawdling ended, math got done sooner, and we were both happier.

Letting Kids Choose How and Where to Do Their Work

I always thought I was a flexible mom! We’ve never used desks for school and rarely use the dining table. Because I’m fully aware that there are different learning styles, I've always let my kids go wherever they prefer to do their school work. Here's how that plays out at our home:

• Reading Dr. Seuss books on a blanket in the front yard while people walk, ride, and drive by.
• Om-Kas-Toe, open on the living room floor with a kid’s head hanging off the seat of a chair to read it. Legs are stretched out over the back of the chair, right side up or upside down.
• Someone reading Mara, Daughter of the Nile while sprawled out on the trampoline.
• From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya in the car, read while stretched out on one’s stomach on a passenger seat that’s fully reclined.

Because, why not? There’s no harm in trying. And while I gave my kids this liberty to read at the spot of their choosing, I still had this objection to math with raucous music.

My son taught me I must not make assumptions about what’s best for each of my kids when it comes to getting their school work done.

Was there a possibility I was right—that an active kid who loves music would end up spending more time singing along and busting a move than doing math work?

Absolutely!

But there was also a possibility that something I had valid reason for believing would be impractical and unsuccessful would turn out to be exactly what he needed. I just had to be willing to give it a try. I'm so glad I did!

Moving Forward

How do I now respond to requests about school that I don’t think are ideal? Well, sometimes I pull rank and use my veto power. That’s life.

More often than not, though, I’ll let the kid give it a try. As long as they’re accomplishing their task in a timely manner, they may continue doing it their way.

To find out more about a curriculum that gives you loads of flexibility, order a complimentary Sonlight catalog today.

The post Letting Kids Learn Their Way: Even with Loud Music or Upside Down appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Whether you’re just starting off on this journey of homeschooling and need a little guidance or have been at it a while and need a pep talk, sometimes it’s good to review the basics. What better way for a homeschooler to do that than in alphabetical order, ABC-style.

A is for Arithmetic

Nail down the basics of math, regardless of how long it takes each kid to master them.

B is for Books

Expose your kids to a variety of titles, encouraging them to try new genres and subjects without pressuring them to like the same ones you do and giving them freedom to enjoy ones you don’t.

C is for Creativity

Explore various forms of art, craft, and music through museums, concerts, exhibits, plays, books, video, and websites. Give your kids an opportunity to experiment with their own ability to create.

D is for Different

Seek out relationships with people who don’t homeschool because variety is the spice of life. We’re all better people when we don’t exclude from our lives those who live differently than we do.

E is for Exercise

Movement helps clear our heads for easier learning, regulates our emotions, and keeps our bodies healthy. Make exercise a priority by regularly doing some gentle stretching, going on bike rides, lifting weights, or whatever appeals to your family.

F is for Flexibility

Accept that school, just like the rest of life, won’t always go as planned. Make necessary adjustments, stay flexible, and keep moving forward.

G is for Guilt

Take responsibility for your choices, but don’t feel guilt for not meeting the expectations of people whose opinions don’t matter or your own unrealistic ones.

H is for Hug

Try to give your kids at least one hug, or other meaningful touch, each day.

I is for Individualize

If you have more than one kid, be willing and ready to change the way you approach education to accommodate each one’s strengths, weaknesses, interests, and skills.

J is for Judging

Don’t compare your homeschool life to another family’s, whether positively or negatively.

K is for Kinship

Develop relationships with other homeschooling families for encouragement when you’re overwhelmed, practical support when you’re feeling stuck, and the ability to do fun stuff together on weekdays.

L is for Live

Don’t get so consumed by school checklists that you fail to take advantage of the opportunities homeschooling provides for you to live a little.

M is for Mealtime

If reading a school book to your kids while they’re all in one place with hands and mouths occupied would be helpful, do it. If, on the other hand, you’d all benefit from a chance to chat about ordinary life, watch funny YouTube videos together, or just enjoy some silence, then do that instead.

N is for Nature

Get outside, whether to hike long trails, play at a local park, look for bugs in the back yard, or do math on the front steps.

O is for Options

There’s no one perfect way to educate all kids, which means there’s a plethora of options for every aspect of school.  Figure out which options are best for your kid, family, and season of life, then move forward without apologies for your choice and plenty of acceptance of what other families choose.

P is for Pencils

Buy good ones and use an equally good pencil sharpener.

Q is for Quiet

Have a period of time each day that’s silent, naps for littles and down time for bigs. Your kids need to learn the value of rest and you need the break in your day.

R is for Reconsider

Take time to evaluate if the way you’re homeschooling is going the way you want it to. Continue with what’s working well or is important enough for you to struggle through, tweak the things that aren’t quite cutting it to make them work better, and ditch what has proven to be ineffective for your family.

S is for Structure

Figure out how much structure your family needs, both the individuals in it and the group as a whole, then manage your days accordingly.

T is for Typing

Make sure your kids can type proficiently on a computer keyboard.

U is for Unity

You can’t do everything, so be sure to include the whole family in taking care of home and school responsibilities. There’s strength in numbers.

V is for Victories

Acknowledge goals that were reached and efforts that were made, even if they were small.

W is for Write

Use daily journals, writing prompts, structured curriculum, or free writing. Just have everyone write something each day.

X is for XXIV

Teach your kids to read Roman numerals, then look for them in real life.

Y is for Yield

Be willing to set your own ideas aside in order to try your kid or spouse’s idea.

Z is for Zippers

Don’t use cool or wet weather as an excuse to stay inside. Zip up your coats and get some fresh air when everyone’s going stir crazy during the winter.

These ABC basics are all things I need to be reminded of on a regular basis. If you feel like you’re treading water as a homeschooler, just pick a couple things from this ABC list. Focus on them for the time being and give yourself the freedom to let the rest go until you’re ready to deal with them.

Curious to see what this type of home education might look like for your family? Go to SmoothCourse to explore your options.

The post Back to the Basics–An Alphabetical Guide to Homeschooling appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

"As a first time homeschool mom, I was very timid when deciding whether to choose to homeschool. After researching Sonlight, I came to love how the program is run and how each grade is set up. I love how much literature my son heard is his Kindergarten year. I absolutely love being able to stay home and allow him to continue to be a child most of the day. School takes us only a couple hours a day or less, and with all the extra time he is able to play and be a kid. It warms my heart to see his relationship with his siblings continue to grow whereas in public school he would be gone all day. I love that he can wear anything he chooses or work anywhere we wants. The flexibility is truly amazing. Sonlight is an excellent choice for our family."

Ashley H. of Cheyenne, WY

There are lots of big reasons to say yes to homeschooling:

• religious freedom
• individualized instruction
• more time for family

But as you find your homeschool groove, you discover a load of seemingly insignificant perks that you may not have originally realized. These little joys add up in a big way and, for my family, have quickly become major benefits of learning at home.

1. Sleeping in Late 

Sure, it’s awesome not to have to wake up to a blaring alarm, but allowing children to get enough sleep is also critical for learning. Not only does rest elevate their capacity to learn, well rested bodies are more capable of caring about what they are learning.

As all educators know, motivation is key. Research has also shown that allowing for later start times may be especially beneficial for adolescents.    

2. Pajamas as Uniform

It's a common homeschool joke—kids learning at home while wearing pajamas, being only partially dressed, or even sporting a costume. It's funny, but there's a deeper perk here. We are enjoying our children’s freedom from daily pressure to match their friends. While we may break out the tennis shoes and jeans for co-op days, our regular routine allows us a great deal of freedom for individual expression and relaxed attire.

3. Learning Alongside Your Child

For many homeschooling parents, getting a chance to relearn world history or getting a second chance to figure out how to use watercolors is a huge perk.

What we often overlook is how important learning alongside our children is for modeling lifelong learning. By joining our children in their learning adventures we are not only supporting them, we are also showing them that learning can be joyful, challenging, even hard, and beneficial at every age.

Learning never stops. 

4. Laundry and Cooking Count as Class

Chores like cooking or cleaning during the homeschool day are often labeled life skills among homeschoolers. While humorous, it’s also true.

Being able to care for yourself, your home, and your family are critical skills that are typically overlooked in traditional schools. Learning how to be an adult totally counts as school!  

5. Ease in Scheduling Appointments

Our doctors and dentists are often relieved when we are able to book an appointment in the middle of the day. We rarely have to wait and are often able to get all our children seen within a single time window. That’s nice, no joke, but that schedule flexibility becomes a huge benefit when you think of the many other things this allows our children to pursue. Music lessons, job shadowing, and work don’t have to eat up evening family time. This flexibility is a huge homeschool perk!

6. Fidgeting Doesn’t Matter 

For young children, sitting still and quiet for long periods of time is not developmentally appropriate. Fortunately, when you're homeschooling, fidgeting doesn’t matter.

Neither does standing on your head or talking through your math out loud. The freedom to use movement and sound without fear of punishment is a huge deal for our homeschool.  

7. More Time for Play  

Education is such a serious business, but for kids play is a huge part of the learning. In many ways it’s the main part. This is true even as they age.

Need an example? Go watch a group of pre-teens gathered around a Pokemon table. You have never seen such intensity, and man do those kids ever know the value of what cards they hold in their hands. It’s easy to assume that nothing is being learned, but that’s a huge mistake. This is high stakes play for many of them. They are playing games and interacting socially in a world where what you trade and what you make defines whether you win the game.

8. Snack Time All the Time

While we often joke about homeschoolers needing second breakfast, the reality is that eating when you are hungry and refraining when you aren’t makes good sense. As homeschoolers, we can snack in our classroom and choose to stock our refrigerator with healthy options that result in good dietary choices. 

9. School Outside

Fresh air and sunshine are a homeschool perk with benefits beyond those of getting to read outside. Spending time outside has positive psychological benefits for both children and adults. Problem solving, risk assessment, and social skills are all exercised through time in a natural environment.

Kids find themselves governed more by the natural laws of gravity, velocity, and buoyancy than parent- or teacher-imposed restrictions.  

10. No Coupon Book Fundraisers

Around here, the public schools sell coupon books for classroom funds. There is usually a reward program where, depending on how many books are sold, kids can attend a classroom party or ice cream social. There is a lot of pressure to help the school raise money, and kids are often the ones that feel the pressure and disappointment the most.

As homeschoolers, we have freedom to choose our own means of funding our curriculum, supplies, and field trips. Our children can work for funds either through traditional jobs, direct selling, or alternative paths instead of outside-imposed fundraisers.

Enjoy your homeschool perks! The cumulative effect of these small benefits reaps massive rewards for our kids and for our families!

Learn more about those larger benefits of homeschooling with this FREE GUIDE.

The post 7 Seemingly Insignificant Homeschool Perks that Make a Big Difference appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.