| Homeschoolers can roughly be divided into two | | | | own home, equips them for a career one day - |
| groups - "unschoolers" and "those who use some | | | | either for an employer or as a self employed |
| form of curriculum". There is a whole spectrum of | | | | individual. "The attitudes and attributes that make |
| homeschoolers in between using different | | | | a good employee are the same attitudes and |
| philosophies to drive their homeschool vision. | | | | attributes that make a good kid." Christine Fields, |
| No matter where you are in your homeschool | | | | Lifeskills for Kids. |
| journey, a homeschooling mom needs to make | | | | As you come alongside your children and train |
| sure that a homeschool curriculum stays in its | | | | them to do their chores they learn how to |
| place. If it becomes the master which dictates to | | | | complete a task they begin. Chores teach our |
| a parent and thus forces real life learning out, it | | | | children problem solving, paid chores teach financial |
| needs to be brought under strict control. | | | | management and getting older children to help |
| Homeschool curriculum's used for Math, Science, | | | | younger children helps them to learn patience. |
| Language and other difficult subjects are often | | | | Meal preparation is a wonderful platform to teach |
| very welcome in a homeschooling home where | | | | home economics which is an asset to both boys |
| moms, like me, are not strong in those subjects. | | | | and girls. As you plan your weeks meals, plan for |
| This is the beauty of using a curriculum as it | | | | some of your children to be your helpers. As you |
| relieves a burden from the homeschooling mom's | | | | bake your snacks and treats, draw your |
| shoulders. | | | | youngest children in to help. These casual times of |
| For subjects that lend themselves to a more | | | | being together are when you can impart your |
| relaxed learning style - those like history, | | | | own kernels of knowledge to your children. These |
| geography and life orientation - as much real life | | | | times also are valuable for drawing your children |
| should be used. Using literature to study history | | | | close to you in amongst the busyness of your |
| and geography is so much better than | | | | days as a homeschooling mom. |
| memorizing dry dates and facts. It allows a child | | | | Relevant Outings provide a wonderful way for |
| to "be at home in a single region - seeing the | | | | your children to learn things by seeing and doing. |
| people at work, the flowers and fruits in their | | | | Outings to historical, geographical and scientific |
| season, the animal in its habitat..." Charlotte Mason. | | | | places of interest can be journalled and |
| History and geography chronicles, or living books, | | | | photographed and notebooked so that you can |
| "nourish the mind with ideas, and to furnish the | | | | keep records of what your children are learning. |
| imagination with pictures" Charlotte Mason. | | | | Just a warning - overdoing outings can become |
| Real life has a way of stretching our children to | | | | tiring to a mom; make sure they are planned |
| think beyond themselves, to care for the needs | | | | carefully. |
| of others, to serve in their homes and to learn all | | | | Ultimately a wise homeschool moms plans a |
| the valuable lifeskills that they need for the rest | | | | balance between curriculum and real life learning, |
| of their lives. Our homes have all that our children | | | | incorporating good literature, work and service at |
| need to teach them how to care for themselves | | | | home, outings and homeschool curriculum. |
| and others. Equipping them in how to work in their | | | | |