Homeschooling... A New Adventure

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Crooked Pines Ministries"><U><IMG SRC="040bf930.gif" border=0 width="191" height="147" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Glance at Reading Readiness"><U>A Glance at Reading Readiness</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Ba"><U>A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Bark</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasing Palette"><U>A Pleasing Palette</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Treasure So Fine!"><U>A Treasure So Fine!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion"><U>Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aunt Bettys BBQ Sauce"><U>Aunt Betty's BBQ Sauce</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back to School"><U>Back to School</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Beginnings of Habit"><U>The Beginnings of Habit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Being Poured Out"><U>Being Poured Out</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Broccoli Chicken Casserole"><U>Broccoli - Chicken Casserole</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Educ"><U>Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Education</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Choosing Curriculum for the new year"><U>Choosing Curriculum for the new year</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives"><U>The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dwelling in Safety"><U>Dwelling in Safety</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fall: The Season of Change"><U>Fall: The Season of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promise"><U>Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promises</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For the Love of Ginger"><U>For the Love of Ginger</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Covenant Journey Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Pure Vessel Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!"><U>Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure"><U>The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in t"><U>Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in the Lord</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Have You Been Working Out?"><U>Have You Been Working Out?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="His Love"><U>His Love</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home Educators and their Books"><U>Home Educators and their Books</U></A></div> <div> <B>Homeschooling... A New Adventure</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Shoals"><U>Homeschooling in the Shoals</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Springtime"><U>Homeschooling in the Springtime</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Swamp"><U>Homeschooling in the Swamp</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How the Created Thing "><U>How the Created Thing </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Prepare a Tincture"><U>How to Prepare a Tincture</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In the Final Analysis"><U>In the Final Analysis</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Joy of the Lord and His Plan"><U>The Joy of the Lord and His Plan</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just Enough Stress"><U>Just Enough Stress</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Loneliness in the Homeschool"><U>Loneliness in the Homeschool</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Message"><U>The Message</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nature Studies Indoors"><U>Nature Studies Indoors</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nursing ParkerDaniil"><U>Nursing Parker-Daniil</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Teacher"><U>Our Teacher</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Relationships in the Homeschool"><U>Relationships in the Homeschool</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S is for Skullcap and Sleep"><U>"S" is for Skullcap and Sleep</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Great Deception"><U>Satan's Great Deception</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Science through a Nature Club"><U>Science through a Nature Club</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sharing from My Excess"><U>Sharing from My Excess</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"><U>"Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Storms of Change"><U>The Storms of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Strength to Face the Day"><U>Strength to Face the Day</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two Moms, One Jesus"><U>Two Moms, One Jesus</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Waiting excerpted from Parables from Nat"><U>"Waiting" excerpted from "Parables from Nature by Mrs. Gatty</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Water and the Blood"><U>The Water and the Blood</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Are You Homeschooling"><U>Why Are You Homeschooling</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Winter... Dormant? Not Hardly!"><U>Winter... Dormant? Not Hardly!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Your Liver loves Burdock!"><U>Your Liver loves Burdock!</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="2cc80803.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  Crooked Pines Ministries</B>  </FONT>  |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Crooked Pines Ministries"><U>home</U></A></div> <div>  <A NAME="back_to__articles_by_mary_e__woodis"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>back to  <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles by Mary E. Woodis"><U><B>Articles by Mary E. Woodis</B></U></A></div> <div> Homeschooling... A New Adventure</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.hisimage.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hisimage.org"><U><IMG SRC="05193950.jpg" border=0 width="147" height="149" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Homeschooling… A New Adventure </div> <div> By: Mary E. Woodis </div> <div> Background Passages: Isaiah 43:15-21 & 1 John 2:5-11 </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      Now that most of us have picked up the reins and driven into a new school year, I decided it was time to take a fresh look at these Scriptures and apply a few truths. As we are entering our seventh year of home educating our children I can look back and see with new eyes the struggles that we faced in those early years. Truly hindsight is 20/20! </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      I have been out digging ditches to drain the water from around our front door. The recent rains and construction have really made a mess of the normal conditions. While I was out there ditching, I began to think of ways that this related to our homeschooling adventure. There was a vast pool of water next to the house. I needed to get that water away from the house and drained into the yard. Once I could get the water into the yard, it would begin to nourish the grass as well as the other plants that are growing there.  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      This is the same way with knowledge and wisdom. It is pooled right outside our doors, in our yards, in our churches, on the Internet and in our libraries. All we have to do is find a way to dig ditches so those great pools of knowledge and wisdom will pour into our homes and be used by our children and ourselves.  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      Now the adventure begins! Seeking out those pools of knowledge and wisdom, creating those ditches so our little plants and trees can partake of the riches that are available. You must remember though, you can only make the resources available; they must do the soaking up. It is of vital importance that you do not drink of this abundance for your children and expect them to gain nourishment when you feed it back to them. Let them drink from the supply and watch the real learning begin! </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Isaiah 43:20 - “…because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.” </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>      As a matter of perspective, God is the great educator and He will furnish the supplies and resources that your children need. Just as He rains down moisture and nourishment for the grass and the trees so He will “…give drink to His chosen.” Are you chosen? Has God called you out of the wilderness to educate your children at home? What is your motivation for taking up this adventure? How is your perspective of your school year? Do you view it as laborious and something to be endured or do you view it as another year of exciting adventure on the high seas of education? Do you see it as work or fun? Your perspective will determine your children’s attitude! Time for an attitude check parents! Are you praising the Lord or grumbling in the wilderness? </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      One reason that the water was standing in pools outside of my front door is that the ground is hard-packed clay in some places and already saturated in others. Therefore, the water could not soak in and be used by the surrounding vegetation. What are the soil conditions in your home? Are your children hard-hearted and stubborn when it comes to their education or have you poured so much on them that they are already saturated and cannot hold anymore?  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      In the case of the hard-hearted and stubborn student, you have some preparation work to do before this child is ready to receive new information. For our hard-packed clay soil, my Daddy always recommends applying lime. The lime works to break apart the clay and by doing so gives a chance for more oxygen and nutrients to saturate the soil. It has worked wonders! Jessie’s Daddy has also used this to great success in his gardens in Colbert County. He produces some of the finest purple-hulled peas I have ever tasted. </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      Obviously you won’t be applying lime to your child, but what could you do to help soften this child’s heart towards education? Your first course will be to discover the root of the problem. If you have just brought your child home to educate, the problem may be  burnout from a bad experience in organized school. If this is the case it may take some time for your child to “unschooled” before any real learning can take place. During this time I would limit all TV and video games and provide alternatives. Provide books and  magazines on areas of their interest. Provide opportunities for manual labor such as building projects, yard work and household chores. Require daily Bible reading and provide a Bible journal for them to write their favorite verse from the passage. If you child is too young to write, make this a journal of blank, unlined pages that he can draw a picture in.  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      Other areas that might be causing this hardness: Is the work not interesting? Try to channel their education through avenues of their individual interest. Is the curriculum not suited to his learning style? Does your child need more of your attention or is he struggling to break free from you and try it on his own? Does your child need more stimulation in his work or are the pages too busy and providing too much distraction? Is there unconfessed sin that is causing an attitude problem? All attitude problems stem from unconfessed sin.  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      In our home we have a 4-step process for dealing with attitudes and sin. This process ministers to every part of the child and even to the parent involved. It gets you and your child back on the same team and working together to bring harmony back into your home. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> In a calm and gentle manner identify the problem. This should be done before you have reached your yelling mode. If you have already started yelling, now is the time to confess this sin to your child and apologize. Once your sin is dealt with you can deal with your child’s. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Explain the reason there was a problem. Be sure to identify their sin as sin and not excuse it. The first and foremost person that this sin was against was God. Your child needs to understand this and understand that the only reason they should obey you is because God said for them to do so. They are not obeying because “you said” or because you are bigger or stronger. Authority of that sort leads to rebellion. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Time for confession. Your child needs to confess their sin to you (Lev. 5:5; Psalms 32:5; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9). By verbalizing their wrong in this way it makes it more real to them and teaches them not to hide their sin. As your child confesses to you look into his eyes. Be aware of what you see there.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Administer discipline. This helps to clean their conscience and soul. (Proverbs. 29:15; 2 Sam. 7:14; Proverbs. 19:18; Rev. 3:19)) Remember that the punishment should fit the sin.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As your children grow older your means of discipline with grow and change also. When our children were little spanking worked best. Now that the girls are getting older, we can reason with them more and restrict their privileges. Sometimes additional work, be it school or housework is just the ticket for an older child that needs correction. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> You can tell by the look in your child’s eyes whether or not you need to continue the discipline or if your job is done. When you punish your child don’t let them act out their rebellion by screaming and crying or speaking disrespectfully to you. There is no good reason for you to tolerate this from your child. You are their Scriptural authority and I know you wouldn’t want them to respond to the discipline of God in this manner. You are teaching your child how to respond to correction and reproof. Remember your responsibility. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Time for prayer. Have your child kneel and pray. Have your child confess their sins to God, as for God’s forgiveness and ask for God’s help to mend their ways. If you have also sinned, this would be a good time for you to set an example and pray also. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He let them hear Him pray. (Matt. 6:9-13) In following our Dear Lord’s example, you should do the same. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> A time of sweet reconciliation is now in order. Take your child into your arms and reassure him of your love. Spend time with your child in sweet fellowship and renew your relationship and set it on a loving foundation before you part. This is so important! Never let your child walk away from you mad. This only leaves an opening for Satan. When your time of correction is over, their hearts should be clean before the Lord and there should be no trace of Satan.  </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>      As you begin your school year be patient as you are establishing new habits and routines. It will take time to work out all of the kinks and learn a new routine. New curriculums take time to become comfortable. This will be your hardest time of the year so be prepared for a few bumps in the road. Be ready to deal with confusion and frustration. Don’t allow it to control your home. Deal with it quickly and it won’t be a big problem.  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      If this is your first year take heed of this verse: </div> <div>  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Isaiah 43:18-19, “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> Things will be different in your home. You cannot create a traditional schoolroom atmosphere in your home. Many certified teachers have dealt with untold hours of frustration from this very thing. Teaching your own children will be different and require a different philosophy than teaching a classroom full of children that you don’t know and don’t know you. Be prepared to be flexible, but also to be tough. They will try you! It is better to be tough at first and then let up later on.  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      One of the greatest hindrances to our homeschool adventure will be hatred and bitterness. You cannot have joy in your adventure if you are harboring bad feelings toward your child, an unsupportive family member or your child‘s last school or teacher. This was the reason I included this passage of Scripture as a background passage. I knew you were wondering how I would tie that in! Let’s look at this together and deal with this final hurdle. </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> 1 John 2:5-11, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      Oh Dear Friends! This is the greatest hindrance to success in your home school. Unresolved conflicts will eat you alive! Go back to that 4-step process again and really look at it. Confession and repentance brings life! It brings life to your soul, life to your home and life in your relationship with our Dear Lord. If you want light and love in your home, if you an orderly, vital atmosphere in your children’s education, deal with the past. Once true forgiveness has been achieved you will find a peace and a joy that will overflow to every member of your family. Pray through these obstacles and you will find yourself in a sweet fellowship with our Dear Lord that will color every moment of every day.  </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>      Well, now we are ready to dive into this new adventure. We have Jesus to light our way and the sailing promises to be wonderful. The pools of knowledge and wisdom are draining into our homes and the lives of our children and we can see excitement radiate from their faces. Can’t you just smell the sweet savor of a home school that is offering up daily praise to our Dear Lord for His abundant provision? I pray that your homeschooling adventure this year will be satisfying and bring honor and glory to our Dear Lord. May God richly bless you in all that you do! Amen. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#back_to__articles_by_mary_e__woodis" TITLE="Homeschooling... A New Adventure"><U><B>Back to the top</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>This article is copyrighted by Mary E. Woodis. If you would like to print this article in whole or part in your publication please contact Jessie and Mary Woodis at </B><A HREF="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net"><U><B>jessiew@hiwaay.net</B></U></A><B> for permission and more details.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This page last updated November 2003</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>