Monday, December 10, 2007

homeschooling

I wanted to share my journal entry about homeschooling.

I have been doing some soul searching this year. I am struggling with “is there more to life than homeschooling?’ I believe yes there is. If you are like me who needs constant challenges you may know what I mean. For those of you who are routine driven may not have a struggle. I like things in order but need different things to do every day and week. God works through our struggles. I have had and interest in going back to school and yet I knew in my heart my children are number one. I have had a yearning for learning about natural nutrition and thought I could still do this on line as a course. Now I know can be done through online courses or creating your own business and your children can help and learn through homeschooling. It is important to know who you so you can teach your children who they are. The interest is good since I need to be healthy to serve my family and friends. I can incorporate my interest with the children for science and harvest time. We made applesauce, apple cider and pumpkin pie. We talked about the vitamins and micro-nutrients. I have had an interest in web design and with a friends help I incorporated again this into science technology. With one of my daughters doing sonlight curriculum grade 5 science,which covers most of what I did this autumn then we can skip some of the needless clutter and do it side by side in the kitchen where life takes place, and build a bond and well with our children. I have learned that the text book is not the answer. It is only a guide. Life is not about curriculum. We are all made by God in his image to glorify him in our strengths and weakness. We are made to serve God and each other. Yes we are all different, even our children. Let’s observe our children and let our eyes be open to God as our guide. We can incorporate our children’s interest as well. One of my daughters loves to paint so we do letters and words in paint. I teach a lot of art as much as possible since we are artistic and crafty. I love to cake decorate and we use our knowledge of paint in making colors with food coloring.. I have learned the application of micro-organisms in speaking to rug cleaners in our home. A biology lesson! . I have learned so much homeschooling for 10 years I feel blessed by God Life is learning! Textbooks give facts. We are not robots. God made us with personalities and different gifts. God made us with a heart so we can have friends to lean on, guide us, learn from and most of all to serve them. God gave us a soul to search out His truth and light. God gave us a mind to learn all about his universe and plan. Let us take time to read his Word and love Him more with all our heart soul and mind.

Henriette