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Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: Keep A Quiet Heart
Scripture Reference:
Homeschooling
When my daughter Valerie Shepard was homeschooling three of her five children (the other two were preschool age), I asked her what she had discovered about the advantages of homeschooling. Here is her answer:
- The children have more time: to read (aloud and silently); to learn responsibility by doing chores at home; to play (without adult direction) and use the imagination; to listen to and enjoy each other; to learn obedience.
- Parents need not deprogram or reteach values the child hears for seven hours a day. They have the child's full attention at any time of the day and can give him full attention; he is not absorbing two different value systems daily.
- Children learn to love each other more. They do not look down on one another in favor of their peers, or in wrong adulation of older children. This society teaches that among children "older is better." That's not right. Having them at home all day allows them to be children without having to "grow up" in the wrong ways.
- They learn to be servants of one another. The family is a microcosm of the Body of Christ.
After I asked Val to write this I had the fun of trying it out myself. Val and Walt went to South Carolina (taking their nursing baby Colleen) and I had the other four for five (very busy!) days. There was a schedule of chores posted in the kitchen. Daily I reminded them (seldom more than once). The nine-, seven-, and five-year-olds took turns setting and clearing the table, emptying the dishwasher, folding laundry, sweeping the kitchen. Walter (the oldest) and Jim (not quite three} took out trash, the girls cleaned the bathroom. All but Jim made their beds.
School began at nine with Bible reading, singing, prayer, all four joining in. Jim sat on the floor and played while the others studied. Christiana finished her kindergarten work by ten or so, Walter and Elisabeth worked till nearly lunchtime.
Every afternoon there was Quiet Hour. This was a lifesaver for Granny. The three older children were expected to be in their rooms for an hour. They did not need to sleep, but they were to read or find something quiet to do alone. (Not once did we have any altercation about Quiet Hour. It had always been a part of their lives, and they liked it.) Jim and I lay down together, I read him a Beatrix Potter story, and he fell asleep.
Since we had no car, four of us walked to the grocery store every day, while Walter rode his bike. It was an interesting string of people, Elisabeth hugging (for example) five pounds of flour, Christiana batting things with a box of Saran Wrap, Jim lugging a bag of apples, Granny with a loaded brown bag.
We had poetry readings (Jim memorized with no effort at all) and singing. Everybody learned "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," by mistake, as it were--I meant for them to learn "Praise the Savior" but somehow that one didn't stick so easily, alas! Walter and Elisabeth practiced the piano and played vigorous duets for the rest of us. We made bread and organized drawers and closets and sorted clothes and toys for give-away and picked violets and had a marvelous time.
I should confess this--on the evening of the first day I wasn't sure I'd survive the week. When Val phoned I asked, "How do you do it?" "Mama, I just do what you taught me: don't think about all you have to do, just do the next thing!" I needed to be told what I have often told others, and it worked.
Homeschooling is demanding to say the least--but worthwhile. If you are considering trying it, you might want to get Mary Pride's The Big Book of Home Learning: The Complete Guide to Everything Educational for You and Your Child (Crossways).
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The Old SchoolHouse
The homeschooling
magazine for
families
Home School Digest
HOME SCHOOL DIGEST will
strengthen, encourage and
equip you in your journey of
homeschooling,
raising Godly children, and
walking closer with Jesus
Christ.
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A Look Inside The Human Body
Explore the Human Body --- A
family SAFE place to see and
learn about the human body and its
function.
Take a test of your understanding of
different functions of the human body.
No reproductive or se*ual content.
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Spencerian
Penmanship
course
and
you can order the
materials from
Keepers
of
the
Faith |
The Great Patriotism Information
Page!
Tons of information from
organizations that are
Pro-Family ~ American Heritage ~
Pro-Homeschooling
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Improve
your
writing & communication skills!
Access dictionaries, find
phrases and learn more
about
writing, grammar & punctuation.
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Homeschool helps for you:
http://www.hopechest.homestead.com
CHRISTIAN BIBLE CURRICULUM
http://www.covenanthome.com |
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NEW!!
US History & Geography
When were states admitted to the
Union?
What are some key
facts
about each state?
Do you
want to read a "mini history" of
each state?
Click on the state name to find
out!!
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Science Resources
So far, this page is simply a
list of links to
Creation
science websites!
"The probability of life
originating from an accident is
comparable to the
probability of an unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a
print shop."
- Dr. Arthur Conklin |
|
MATH sites
for all ages
a
page of MATH stuff |
Special Books and
Homeschool materials for you
and
your family!!
timberdoodle.com
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Robinson Books
http://www.robinsonbooks.com
History, Adventure and Character
in 99 books
by G A Henty |
Did you know that Christian Book
Distributors has a great catalog
of books, homeschooling
resources and complete schooling
courses? You can call CBD
and speak with one of their
representatives:
1-978-977-5045
or you can visit their
website:
http://www.Christianbook.com
By doing this, you may
be able to save
quite a bit of
money.
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♥
♥
More Neat Stuff For You!
(in other words these are neat things
for which I don't have a specific place!!) |
Begin filling a "Hope Chest"
You can read
about the inspiring life of the
author of the book, The Hope
Chest: A Legacy of Love, about hope chests and
traditions, and gather ideas and
patterns
for learning and
preparing for your
Hope Chest. Many things
have been added to this site.
The Hope Chest Legacy
http://www.HopeChestLegacy.com
The
Hope
Chest:
A
Legacy
of
Love
by
Rebekah
Wilson
Reebekah
also
has
many
other
thoughts
to
share
and
suggestions
for
skills
you
will
want
to
develop.
One
such
skill
is
beautiful
penmanship.
You
can
read
all
about
pens,
&
dipping
ink,
about
the art of writing and more.
This book is a *must-read* for families.
a wonderful website:
Happiness is a verb
your inspiring
inspirational pages
PUZZLES PUZZLES PUZZLES!!!
puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com
TEACHER: Why are you late?
WEBSTER: Because of the sign.
TEACHER: What sign?
WEBSTER: The one that says, "School Ahead, Go Slow."
_____________
TEACHER: Cindy, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
CINDY: You told me to do it without using tables!
_____________
TEACHER: John, how do you spell "crocodile?"
JOHN: K-R-O-K-O-D-A-I-L"
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
JOHN: Maybe it s wrong, but you asked me how I spell it!
_____________
TEACHER: What is the chemical formula for water?
SARAH: H I J K L M N O!!
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
SARAH: Yesterday you said it's H to O!
______________
TEACHER: George, go to the map and find North America.
GEORGE: Here it is!
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America?
CLASS: George!
______________
TEACHER: Willie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WILLIE: Me
______________
TEACHER: Tommy, why do you always get so dirty?
TOMMY: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
______________
TEACHER: Ellen, give me a sentence starting with "I."
ELLEN: I is...
TEACHER: No, Ellen..... Always say, "I am."
ELLEN: All right... "I am the ninth letter of the alphabet."
____________
TEACHER: "Can anybody give an example of COINCIDENCE?"
JOHNNY: "Sir, my Mother and Father got married on the same day, same time."
_____________
TEACHER: "George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted doing it. Now do you know why his father didn't punish him?"
JOHNNY: "Because George still had the ax in his hand."
______________
TEACHER: Now, Sam, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SAM: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
_______________
TEACHER: Desmond, your composition on "My Dog" is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
DESMOND: No, teacher, it's the same dog!
______________
TEACHER: What do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
PUPIL: A teacher.
______________
SILVIA: Dad, can you write in the dark?
FATHER: I think so. What do you want me to write?
SYLVIA: Your name on this report card.
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What about socialization?"
This great site's
been around a long while 
