Archive for the ‘FAQ’ Category
1 September 2009
Little victories, big encouragement
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ; Parenting.
[DT: Homeschool may not always be the first choice for families. Fear and anxiety are common. In this final post – the fifth in a series that began on 18 August – a homeschooling mother shares her own tentative feelings and the little victories that made her journey worthwhile.]
THIS FATHER’S POST REMINDED ME a lot of the feelings I had when we first decided to homeschool two of our five children. I prayed and cried, wondering if I was doing the right thing, not sure if I wanted to take on the difficult task of working with my two boys, wondering if I would be stunting their future. In their case, the school was unable and unwilling to work with us to meet their needs. All we wanted to do was hold them back a grade (they are twins), but the school was inflexible.
Now 4 months later, I felt it was the best decision we made, especially for them. Yes it is hard, and it is not convenient. But one of the boys who never showed any desire to read or write now cares that words are spelled correctly – a small thing but a huge victory to us, showing that he is learning to be interested in language. Once the desire is there, the other elements will fall into place.
The boys no longer cry when I correct their mistakes. If I told them their answer was not correct either verbally or in their schoolwork, they use to emotionally fall apart and say I was calling them stupid. It broke my heart for them to think that.
It has been a hard road building back their self esteem, and we are not through yet. But these little victories, the changes in attitude and for them to regain their eagerness to learn and be curious is worth every rough moment we have had.
Our original plans had been to incorporate them back into their former school after 1-2 years but I wonder if they would lose more than they would gain. It is in God’s hands and I trust that we will know what to do when the time is right. My thanks to all of you as I have read your comments and I too gained hope and encouragement from them.
Sincerely,
Juli
25 August 2009
Family on the move, and baby on the way
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ; Parenting.
“There will be a lot of adjustments when the baby comes….how will we cope?”
[DT: When a father wrote to express fears homeschooling 2 children with a third on the way, many moms sent in encouragement for him to continue and not give up. This post which is #4 in a series that began on 18 August, comes from a mom who's got more than baby on her mind, but is happily homeschooling all the same!]
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on your wife’s pregnancy! I’m presently pregnant with my 3rd child who’s due in mid December (I’m about 21 weeks along). I have 2 boys – Ian, 5+ and Pio, 2+. We’re homeschooling the Charlotte Mason way.
I understand your concerns about homeschooling, as we’re going through some big changes ourselves. We’re moving to Hanoi, Vietnam, next Saturday, and will remain there for 1 year as my husband has an assignment there. With all the packing and organizing and planning, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed … and I sometimes get ahead of myself and tend to get anxious and worried about things, especially about homeschooling.
Early next year, there’ll be a whole lot of CHANGES in our family and lifestyle – new environment & home, new baby and new ‘school’ year for Ian, who will be 6 yrs, like your eldest son. We’ve never had a hired domestic helper (well, I have 3 non-hired ones actually — my 2 boys and my husband haha!), and do not plan to have any in the future. I believe that EDUCATION is MUCH more than just the academics – a child must learn the basics of life, especially on how to take care of himself and others, and these are best learned at home, through every day routines and house chores, etc.
I agree with the other homeschoolers who have replied your email – a child can LEARN anytime, anywhere, anyhow – and everything is an opportunity for learning. Even though I know that our homeschool next year will NOT be a typical ‘school year’, I am sure that my children will get the best out of everything.
Having said that, once all the packing and organizing were done, I seized the opportunity to plan out our Year 1 (Gr 1 for age 6-7). I’ve gathered all the books and materials that we need for each subject and came up with a schedule system that is flexible enough to be modified easily. That way, when baby is born, I can fully concentrate on breastfeeding (which, by the way, makes life so much easier for everyone, especially mommy! not to mention that it is the best food for baby) WHILE homeschooling the 6-year-old. The 3-yr-old tags along in our homeschool lessons (which are done as informally as possible for children of these young ages) if he wants to — If he doesn’t, I have ‘activity boxes’ (Duplos, playdoh, art supplies, etc) to keep him occupied while I do a lesson with his older brother.
You must keep in mind that homeschooling is NOT “school at home” It is actually EDUCATING the child in the HEART OF THE HOME, in the domestic church, which is the FAMILY. The best part of homeschooling is that we can make it as flexible as we want it to be, all the while, enjoying each other’s presence and building strong bonds and relationships within the family. It’s always the toughest during the beginning phase, but it will soon become second nature. I am inspired by many homeschooling families overseas who have 7-10 children and no helpers, and they’re having the time of their lives homeschooling! The support that I’ve gotten from these veteran homeschoolers have really kept me going, especially when there’re any uncertainty or self-doubt.
If you like, I would be more than happy to share with you our lesson plan outline for our 6-yr-old next year, and the schedule planners and templates which you and your wife can modify easily for your own usage. I kept our schedule very light next year, as the main priority is to spend time together as a family with new baby. As “light” as it is, I do not believe that our homeschool schedule will “shortchange” my son in any way, as it is very rich and full of life. That’s another great thing about homeschooling – we can focus on what we believe is important and limit those that we believe are not!
I just want to affirm you in your decision to homeschool your children – it is a decision that you will not regret! Despite all the challenges and a new learning curve, you, your wife and your children will be having the most wonderful time of your lives!
GOD BLESS!
Dominique
21 August 2009
Very pregnant. And still homeschooling.
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ; Parenting.
“Help! We’ve got 2 kids, and my wife’s pregnant. Should we just quit homeschooling?”
[DT: It's not uncommon for homeschooling dads to get nervous when baby's on the way. In her reply to this anxious dad, a mother of 4 shares what she believes is the heart of homeschool and what her family did when she was expecting. This encouraging testimony is #3 in a series of responses that I began posting on 18 August]
I ALSO GRAPPLE with personal insecurities every now and then. During such times I do lose sight of God’s purpose for me, but as I watch my children grow, and reflect, I’ve so much to thank God for 
I’ve 4 kids (ages 11, 10, 6 and 1+) so I know the needs are real and can be overwhelming. Although homeschooling has not been always easy, it is not impossible either. My husband and I planted a new church last year, and my youngest was born in the same year. Busy is an understatement. I’ve no word to describe it, but God was our strength and his grace was sufficient.
With every pregnancy and birth in the family (two of my kids were premature babes) my children continued learning. Each time, learning took on a different form but the process still went on! Nevertheless, one lesson stood out every time: SERVICE ABOVE SELF. No matter their age, I’ve observed my children have learnt to be selfless and serve the new baby and their mum with love and respect. Along the way, they have become more independent conquering new tasks.
Last year, my girls began a project on “babies” during my pregnancy. Then during my confinement month, they did intense research all by themselves – books, internet, discussing issues with adults – to come up with a lapbook each. They kept adding more information as they went along and finally on their baby brother’s 1st birthday this year they presented their project to him and all of us in the family.
The girls’ lapbooks had a song they composed while baby was still in the tummy, stories they wrote, a slideshow of baby’s milestones, interesting facts on reproduction, breastfeeding, babywearing, and puberty. They also put up posters and mini-display booths on nutrition, cloth diapers and sarong-slings, etc for viewing. That was something for my father-in-law who remains very skeptical about homeschool even after all these years! None of my kids went to public school, and to think that they did the lapbooks all by themselves as a gift for their l’il brother.
When the girls were younger (under 6), we just read a lot, played a lot, and we talked a lot about whatever was happening around us (we still do all that). As you can see, learning is not confined to textbooks and workbooks alone. If we duplicate the school system at home, we miss the true essence of homeschool. It will really be good for you and your spouse to really understand its essence and KNOW your motivation behind your decision to homeschool.
Seek God daily to keep your focus and purpose, as well as creativity and opportunity to enhance the learning process. God is so ready to give. We have never lacked resources (we don’t even buy a curriculum) and strength. Did I say strength? Oh, how we all need it, but not our own but God’s divine provision upon whom we depend totally.
You will be in my prayers
Selina
19 August 2009
Homeschooling when baby makes 4
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ; Parenting.
[DT: What happens to homeschool when baby arrives? Time to hunker down or throw in the towel? This mom of 4 tells how she worked things out without giving homeschool up. This is post #2 in a series - see previous post - of wonderful testimonies taken from our HOMEFRONTIER forum]
I HAVE BEEN HOMESCHOOLING MY KIDS FOR 3 YEARS. I too panicked when I heard that I was pregnant with number 4. I wondered how I would cope with a 2yo who thinks he is Wolverine, a 4yo who still needs help in the toilet, and a 10yo reaching puberty (aiyoyo!). I could barely keep awake from sleepless nights, breastfeeding, and recovering from all that needed doing, but things did eventually work out!
Here’s what I did before baby was born:
1. Put kids in age-appropriate playgroups
I noticed my kids could play and form better friendships with others their age. Since there was none near my home and I didn’t have a car to zoom around, I formed 2 playgroups at home: one for my 11yo and another for my 3 and 5yo. When the kids came over they got to play and I got to take a breather. My 5yo found his best friend this way and now they are inseparable.
2. Lessen emphasis on academics
Workbooks and all that can wait. Having a new baby is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your kids to biology at work. I took my kids to the O&G clinic, they saw me get an ultrasound and take a blood test, and listened as my doctor interpreted the scan. They examined my growing tummy, and later after baby was delivered they prodded my deflated stomach, and watched as I breastfed the baby. Along the way the kids asked questions and that’s how learning took place.
3. Lessen my own workload
I formed a cooperative learning group. My 11yo learnt the violin at her friend’s house and took lessons from another 11-year old on Thursdays. That’s where she picked up badminton as well and now she’s keen for more training. Once a month she joined a study group in the home of another friend whose dad would teach whatever was the flavour of the month. This month her friend’s dad will be taking them all to the museum to learn about the Emergency (a pet topic of this dad).
Also, the parents that I have met through HOMEFRONTIER and MALHEN have been enormously supportive and my kids have benefited greatly from socializing with other families.
Hope this helps.
Yuling
18 August 2009
Giving up homeschool
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ; Parenting.
Your wife has her hands full with two children under 6 years, and now she’s pregnant with the third child. You think to yourself: perhaps homeschool isn’t such a good idea after all. You don’t think she can cope; you’re not even sure if you can cope either. Now you’re thinking about calling the whole thing off and send the kids to a school or a learning center….
[DT: The scenario is real. After sharing his honest feelings on our HOMEFRONTIER forum, a father receives testimony after testimony from moms who think homeschool is too good to give up on. They were so encouraging I decided to edit excerpts from among the several to share. Here's the first.]
CONGRATULATIONS on your wife’s pregnancy. With 2 boys and one more on the way, I can understand your skepticism – they can be quite a handful! Though my homeschooling journey hasn’t been that far along, I was compelled to reply when I read your post: “Thinking of giving up homeschooling…?”
For me homeschooling has never been a concept or method, but a lifestyle. It isn’t ‘school-at-home’ but an opportunity to involve myself with my children (d-10 and s-5 years) and facilitate their learning in every avenue of their lives. It is me growing with my kids and learning with them, and from them.
I work from home and I too don’t have a domestic helper. It seemed hard at first trying to fit everything in a ‘set schedule’ but finally I gave up trying. We can never fit life into a set schedule. While my daughter has a slightly more defined ‘learning path‘, my son’s learning revolves more around his life and my own. So when I’m working, he tries to read some of my stuff, or plays in the same room where I’m ironing. I play games together with him, and in the evenings we take walks in the park. The fact is, children learn all the time and it doesn’t necessarily happen at the kitchen table when ‘school is in session’.
With a new baby in the home, there’s plenty of learning opportunities i.e. from the feeding pattern of a baby, your children learn about time; if your baby is breastfed, they could learn about nutrition and how breast milk promotes health; and if baby is bottle-fed, they learn measurements (how much powder to how much water in baby’s bottle). There are also learning opportunities in bathing the baby and her nap times in which you would have unconsciously incorporated science, math, personal hygiene, daily life-skills, and more.
This is just a tiny example of what you can do in your homeschooling life, and the possibilities are endless. The internet is also an infinite resource for research into all the things you can do as you homeschool through this period of your life. I do hope you and your wife can see homeschooling in a different light and reconsider. Your children will thank you for it.
All the best,
Sweeyen
5 August 2009
10 things to think about before homeschooling
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ.
You say to yourself: With the way things are going, homeschool is beginning to look like a real option. So what’s the next step?
To save from repeating myself to inquirers, I’m happy to report that I have added a new page that tells parents The 10 Things To Think About Before You Take The Plunge. You can click on the tab that says, STARTING HOMESCHOOL.
A quick look will give the impression that this is something you don’t want to rush into. Indeed. There’s a quote I picked up from a movie: “Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn.” That sums up what a decision to homeschool will seem like for a lot of parents. The only thing is, when you’re homeschooling it’s pretty much like burning one bridge and crossing another – at the same time.
10 January 2005
Homeschool negatives
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ.
2 couples visited to chat about homeschool Saturday night. Mr & Mrs J are wringing their hands in exasperation at the state of public schools (wife works with a publisher of Malaysian textbooks) and are pretty much sold on homeschooling their 5-year old son. We showed them our boys’ old scrapbooks and journals and encouraged them to take it easy and not rush into formal learning. We pulled out books and catalogues, and explained how to purchase curriculum off the Net, and as always, ended up talking about the legality of homeschool. They were an enthusiastic couple and both husband and wife talked about how exciting it would be to be learning and growing together.
Mr & Mrs Y (they have 3 kids) who rang the doorbell as the first couple was leaving was a picture of contrast. Y wasn’t happy that his wife wanted to homeschool and he expressed his indignation and skepticism throughout the evening. He understood his wife’s concerns, said Y, and that was why he agreed to talk to homeschoolers (evidence of an open mind, he added). Y admitted he did not have any idea what homeschooling was about, and concepts about schooling and education were largely defined by his personal experiences in public school. Both had views that were opposed to each other, but Mrs Y had gone on ahead to order homeschool books for their preschoolers, which to her husband was tantamount to open defiance.
I thought they were very honest in airing their differences to someone whom they had just met, and both Sook Ching and I told them they had to work things out together before homeschooling their kids. Here was a practical man who wanted answers to all his questions, including, “How much time do I really have to spend with my children?” and “What do I have to expect 5 years from now, or 10 years later?” Not an involved father to start with as it became apparent, but legitimate questions nonetheless. Seeing none of us at home was a crystal ball gazer, I’m not sure if we were entirely helpful. We also shared about the importance of conversations as one aspect of informal learning at home – we always have lots of things to talk about each time we sit down together, in the car, at meals, etc. Y turned to our 15-year old son Ethan and asked, besides “talking,” how much time does his Dad spend “teaching” him? Ethan gave him his typically lazy, quizzical look and said, “Well, talking is teaching too.” Don’t know if that meant anything to Y!
Anyway, what intrigued me most about the two couples was something both men asked. They’ve heard all these nice things about homeschool, but what about failures and dropouts? Aren’t there any? On balance, are there ‘negatives’ they should know about? Y reported that a church leader warned of a family whose teen had had a nervous breakdown shortly after homeschooling.
It always strikes me as utterly bizarre that all the violence and obvious breakdown in conventional schools never give detractors of homeschooling cause for pause. Apparently it’s alright when they happen in a conventional school, because these ‘negatives’ don’t make anyone say, “Careful, you don’t wanna send your children to zoos like these.” But talk about homeschooling, and someone goes, “Say, wasn’t that Yates woman who drowned her five kids a homeschooler?”
Now where do you think that came from?
25 January 2004
ABCs of homeschooling
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ.
We do not all enter the New Year in the same fashion. For a new homeschooler it will be a year of transition, a new way of doing things, a new routine even. For older homeschoolers, it’s usually a new resolve to improve their performance.
The more regimented among us would have a mission statement spelled out, all purpose-driven and milestone appointed. But whether by force of habit or compelled by circumstances, many others (among whom I count myself) will be stumbling into the new calendar while they are busy doing other things.
Eight years ago, we burnt our bridges and boldly went where few had trod (at least in Malaysia). We had decided to keep our two children at home, believing it was the best thing to do. My wife Sook Ching would give up her job and once the maid’s term ended, we would be turning over a new page, writing a new chapter. That was a lot of changes we packed into our new year back then, not to mention the repercussions of the Asian economic meltdown at the time. We did not have lots of resources such as cash or connections, and we would not and could not look back now.
You can imagine the mixed feelings we had, like the ones that overwhelm when you are leaving home for the first time. You quickly realise that all the stories you hear from friends and relatives or books you’ve read, never quite become the script you rehearse in anticipation of the life you’ve chosen. This is not to say that homeschool is not all it’s made out to be. It is. It’s just that we are all different and we are shaped as much by the choices we make as by the circumstances we’re placed in. Through the years, we have evaluated the course we’ve taken, and I dare say it’s like the ABCs: the alphabet is the same, but the letters are forming new words enriching our collective vocabulary.
Here are a few useful words we’ve learnt:
ACCEPTANCE
Whether you’re new to homeschool or not, the first thing you need to do is to accept one another. The heroes of the homeschooling community and the achievers we read about are great motivational stuff. It is right to be challenged and encouraged to achieve similar feats, but beware the tyranny of false expectations. The very reason why we homeschool is to break out from the rigidity of artificially imposed standards. So we ought not subscribe to the same and presume our children will learn in the same way, at the same pace, and in words unspoken, do us parents proud as if to prove homeschool ‘right.’
For instance, not every child must or will read at 3 or 4 years, or become a music prodigy. In the early ages, all a child needs are active play and a supportive parent-child relationship. There is something to be said about what we think our child needs as opposed to what he or she is ready for. Learning readiness (as well as learning styles) differs from person to person. Of course, the right attitudes towards learning must be nurtured, but we need to be clear about whose milestones our child is measured against, and for whose pleasure we desire what we are pursuing.
Bear in mind also that we parents have our limits too. Your spouse is not the fount of all knowledge, and neither are you. I cannot speak for all parents, but I know I am not Father of the Year material, and I should not expect my wife to be Super Mom of the Year. Share the load, even engage tutors if necessary. Although by homeschooling we reduce the number of variables, it does not mean we now have enough time to do everything in a home. Not many of us will have the luxury to do all things well, but by God’s grace we can decide to pay attention to the few that matter.
BALANCE
Second, we should always aim at balance in our homeschool. By this I mean a healthy approach to building mind, body and soul. In the words of social theorist Neil Postman, true education must include, “the art and science of question-asking.” This will come from wide reading and deep conversations. We must aim at becoming as familiar as Paul himself was (with Greek writings), and as the early Church Fathers (like Augustine) were with secular classics and philosophies of their day.
Nevertheless, it would not do to develop external skills, head knowledge and competence without equally building our child’s interior life. Granted, this cannot be artificially induced. But the seeds must be planted early so that God can breathe life into them in his time so the child resonates with the disciplines and passions of a person who knows Jesus personally.
Balance also means giving a child an acceptable level of social interaction. Church friends and activities are good, but we also need to ask how else to expand our circle beyond the holy huddle. I remember what Luis Palau once said, that when manure is spread out, it fertilises. Pile them in one place and it does nothing but stink. Ministry and community service help us to look away from self-indulgence and protection of our comfort zones.
CONVICTION
Finally, hold on to your convictions. I have observed that the less clear a parent is regarding homeschool concepts, the more frazzled he or she is likely to be. Social pressures (from non-homeschooling parents, friends or church leaders) will shake your confidence if you do not know what you are doing. Differing ideas between Mom and Dad also puts a strain on how to homeschool or discipline a child. In that unhappy state, a child is not going to find an environment that is conducive to learning and spiritual formation.
I know most people say they homeschool because the present education system is ‘bad.’ That’s a reason – up to a point – but is this all? Because that would mean scraping home education if a new school opens next door promising everything you ever dreamed about to help your child achieve his ‘full potential’ (endorsed by ‘experts’ no less!). Go ahead and enroll your child if it works for you, but in the meantime it’s going to have a bearing on your attitudes and the way you educate your child at home.
A tentative “I-wish-I-didn’t-have-to-homeschool-but-I’ve-got-no-choice” position will make homeschool unbearable for yourself and your child. If you should take your child out of conventional schooling, you must be clear what you are putting him into as a substitute, for how long, and to what end. The bewilderment over curriculum or methodology can usually be traced to misunderstanding of means and ends, but mainly to unarticulated convictions.
You need to be clear too that homeschool comes packaged with some ‘risks’, the way conventional schooling has its own. Let me qualify that: we are all pioneers making things up as we go along, living with less than our ideals demand – while we work to make things better for ourselves, and for the ones who will come after us.
Homeschool IS viable and practical, but it will ask a lot out of you and your spouse. Like parenting, what it asks is, what are you prepared to pay to make it work?
Of course, you have to contend with an ambivalent Ministry of Education as well. Unlike countries like the US or Australia, homeschool ranks pretty low on the acceptability scale. For various reasons, the authorities are not going to pat you on the back for your good intentions. You may have to take a chance by not applying for exemption, or take a chance applying (in which case you cannot be sure if it will be favourable or not).
Let me conclude by saying that if we have to live our lives all over again, we would make the same decision to educate our boys at home. Homeschool has been a real blessing in more ways than one. We experienced the faithfulness of God to make us equal to the challenges that came. We learnt what it meant to obey God one day at a time, and then to leave the consequences to him. As you go along, I have no doubt you’ll learn the same.
1 December 2000
So you’ve decided to homeschool
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: FAQ; Homeschool.
So you’ve decided to homeschool. Yippee! How are you going to tell a 6 year-old child he’s not going to school with Timothy and Charmaine (Hooray!) and all the other kids his age in Sunday School? After the yippees and hoorays die down, you might want to share these pointers with him:
1. Mom and Dad want you to learn in a different way Mom and Dad chose homeschool because we want you to have an education that is ‘holistic.’ Okay, that’s a new word, a big word. That’s English Vocabulary 101 for starters. We can’t promise if you’ll end up a walking dictionary, but if we work hard at it, you’ll be giving Auntie Mun Ri a run for the money at Boggles (and Scrabble) when we’re through!
Anyway, ‘holistic’ as we understand it means learning and growing beyond head knowledge. We pay attention to the heart and spirit too. The heart needs to grow in love and passion for the things of God and the world He’s created; the spirit needs to come alive in a living, personal relationship with Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Homeschool lets us – your parents – do all these things without unnecessary distractions and unwholesome influences.
You might wonder why we didn’t think to ask you for an opinion seeing you’re the interested party. Here’s why: we’re bigger and taller than you. So we can see further, across the fence, to what lies on the other side.
Besides, school isn’t what it’s cut out to be these days. Friends like Mrs. Joseph and Auntie Cheong can’t agree if school is more a tuna factory or a battlefield when talking about the troubles their kids go through. One thing they’re sure about is headaches: it seems school is giving their kids headaches and their headaches are giving the two aunties the same.
2. Everyday will be like an adventure Learning is like a trip into a foreign country: full of fascinating sights, beguiling smells and curious languages. You meet strange people with even stranger customs, and streets with impossibly weird names.
But when you are a homeschooler, learning takes on an added dimension – you’re not on the same tour bus as other kids your age! Did Mum and Dad forget to buy the ticket? Nope, they just think it’s much better to see places at their own pace and on their own terms. (Remember how it was when we last travelled in a tour group – all rush, rush and touristy info in mangled syntax? Absolutely no fun)
Do your parents know what they are doing? Er, not all the time. Though they think they know where they’re heading.
Like Abraham who uprooted himself from his comfortable home in the city of Ur for a promised land that only God knows where, we’re living out this wild but wonderful adventure one day at a time. And you know what? God will be with us all the way. For good measure, we’ll be clinging to His hand real tight.
3. Your parents are going to be your tour guides Although Mum and Dad are the teachers at home, our job is really to ‘guide’ you through your daily school lessons. We’re like tourist guides leading you to new places of adventure; but you have to make the discoveries yourself. For instance, if you don’t know the meaning of a word, Mum will point you to a dictionary – but you flip the pages and look it up. Don’t know what’s the capital of South Africa? Dad might give you a couple of hints, but you’ll have to pull out the atlas and check it out yourself.
Oh yes, there’s one other thing: we’re not anywhere near Einstein’s stratospheric IQ. Mum isn’t blessed with Solomon’s wisdom, while Dad thinks attaining Job’s patience is beyond him. Sorry. Although we’re the ones with the street map, we (as in you our child, and us your parents) are in this thing together. Honestly, it’s a new experience for us too. So we’ll have to work together. We’ll have to help one another every time we run into a cul-de-sac, or miss a turn.
4. Homeschool is not another name for no-school You’re not going to be bussed to school like Hussein or Chee Seng next door. You won’t have uniforms to put on. And because Mum and Dad have bad memories about screeching school bells, you’ll be spared of that. But we’ll have school. Kind of. There’ll be lessons, homework, and assignments even. (If you behave yourself, maybe we won’t freak you out with exams and surprise tests – not just yet, anyway).
First, we’ll sit down and work out a timetable – some sort of schedule that fits everyone’s biorhythm, and Mum’s wash day too. Most of all it will be age-appropriate of course. Mercifully, there won’t be 6-hour stretches of interminable cramming daily. (Don’t you just pity your poor Std Three cousin Ivan?
Sometimes we play, other times we study. When school begins, play time stops. Studying for most parts means following that timetable we’re talking about. We will expect reading and writing assignments to be completed. What is important is to work as hard at studying as you do at playing. The neat thing is, sometimes learning comes disguised as play too!
5. Life is going to be one BIG living textbook Mum and dad will be adding new subjects to your homeschool curriculum as we go along. Like Economics, and extrapolating the cost of a kilogram’s worth of tomatoes. Or Domestic Science, which could include anything from the exacting science of pancake making, to the mind-expanding challenge of serving up a perfect half-boiled egg.
Helping Mum hang out the laundry will teach you new things like evaporation, cloud formation, and our prickly tropical weather condition. At the risk of spiritualizing, Jesus’ question to Nicodemus about where the wind blows will become a little more meaningful when you watch clothes dance in the afternoon breeze.
Dad on the other hand will introduce you to nuts and bolts stuff. Drilling holes, sawing timber, changing lightbulbs. And how not to smash your fingers when hammering nails. You’ll get a chance to peer under the hood of the family car too. And guess what? We’ll even let you have the phone number to the nearest workshop, access to which is a lesson in humility – especially since Dad can’t tell the difference between carburetor and radiator to save his life.
6. People will shake their heads, but don’t mind them Finally, you have to know that some of our friends and relations will think us ‘weird’ to be homeschooling. Now and then, there’ll be strange looks, odd questions and awkward silence. Ah, well. When that happens, always remember that there’s nothing a sense of humour cannot handle. Tell them Mom was going to register you in a regular school, but no one would take you because you flunked kindergarten! Haha.
Short of dazzling our friendly inquisitors with a brilliant discourse on Paul’s letter to the Romans or a brief history of Temujin and the Mongol Empire (I wish!) just tell them what you really do in homeschool. No, it’s not cool putting others down to make yourself look good. Let them know what a great time we have doing school and how much we thank God for the privilege. Really, it’s okay to be different as long as we know we’re in the middle of God’s will. As you grow older, you’ll see it’s the safest place to be in the whole wide world.