As Christian homeschooling parents we are constantly looking at homeschooling programs. When we see another family successfully using new materials or ideas, we want to try them, too. But sometimes that idea doesn’t seem to work for our family. It may be that it isn’t consistent with your family’s personality or style. It may be that it conflicts with something else we are doing. Just because something doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean you aren’t succeeding. It could mean that it’s just not a good fit.
Yes, there is individuality for each family. On the surface, home education can look quite different from one family to the next. But looking a little deeper we find that all effective homeschool families shine in three essential categories:
- Home Learning Environment,
- Teaching approach, and
- Curriculum.
How successful families succeed in each category can look quite different from one to the next. But that they are effective in all three is the common trait.
Many homeschool parents spend too much time on just one category, typically curriculum. I’ve seen parents spend incredible amounts of time reviewing packages, programs, and online options. They get completely overwhelmed.
When evaluating homeschooling programs, look at the impact on home life, the teaching methods, and the study materials. It really helps in gauging how well a resource or idea will work for you.
Diagnosing Problems
Seeing homeschooling programs in this three-tier structure has another benefit; it helps us analyze problems when they arise. I can’t guess how many times I have seen homeschool parents try to solve the wrong problem.
Here is a common one: the kids don’t pay attention or cannot sit still long enough to get good work done. The cause may be too much sugar in their kids’ diet, which is a learning environment problem. But the parents think that the issue is that the curriculum isn’t engaging enough to keep the kids attention. So they spend hundreds of dollars on flashy new curriculum or online classes trying to find a curriculum that “works for them.” But nothing they try helps because what they really need to do is throw out the Capt’n Crunch.
Home is your Strength
Research has shown that the learning environment is perhaps the most influential–and overlooked–aspect in educational effectiveness. Why? Because learning is stressful and takes effort. The best learning environment provides refuge so the child can approach each new challenge refreshed and unafraid. Refuge means safety, refreshment, and acceptance. The child then has no fear of learning, no reason not to try his best. It is the perfect environment to encourage a lifelong love for learning.
Environment is one of the greatest negatives of schools, especially large, impersonal institutions. It’s impossible to systematize love. Don’t underestimate the importance of home in the education of your children. A healthy home-life is a homeschooling family’s great advantage over institutional education. Learn to leverage that strength.
Christian Homeschooling’s Organization
Dividing homeschooling programs into three general categories—environment, teaching approach, and curriculum—helps us to discuss areas critical to Christian homeschooling. It also allows us to evaluate what we are doing well and where we need to improve. Clarity is indispensable in identifying problems and solutions.
You will find articles organized under these categories in other sections of this site. We encourage you to follow the links and then give us your feedback.