In the next few weeks you will receive these "Special Edition" Newsletters with our Christian Homeschool Foundations series.

1. How To Help Someone Start Homeschooling

2. Steps in Making or Reaffirming Your Decision

3. Am I Qualified To Teach My Children?

4. Is Homeschooling Legal?

1. Start with Your Family Mission Statement – Don't worry; it's really simple and easy!

2. How To Set Useful Goals – Plus how and why to use your goals.

3. Setting Specific Goals and Objectives – Objectives are stepping stones to reach your goals!

 •  How Dads Can Help with the Planning Process

1. Start with Prayer, Your Family Mission Statement, and Goals

2. Assess Each Child

3. Learn about Different Methods and Materials

4. Consider Combining Methods and Materials

5. Decide Which of Your Children You Will Teach Together for Which Subjects

6. Look for Specific Materials with Features That Will Meet Your Needs

7. Choose and Buy Your Curriculum

1. Clear Out and Clean Your Home

2. Establish Daily Chores and Routines

3. Set Up Your School Space

4. Organize Your Home Library

 •  Ergonomic Considerations

1. Set Your School-Year Schedule

2. Plan Your Studies

3. Create Daily and Weekly Schedules

 •  Tips To Keep Your Schedule Moving Smoothly

 •  20 Activities To Get Your Homeschool off to a Great Start!

 •  Our Readers Write: Family Traditions To Start the Homeschool Year

 •  10 Goals and Purposes of Orientation Week

 •  8 Ways To Use Our Orientation Week Suggestions

 •  "Why Do We Have To Learn This Stuff?"

1. Daily Devotions

2. Disciple, Train, Discipline, and Nurture Your Children

3. Bible Study and Memorization

4. Fellowship, Service, and Evangelism

 •  Your Own Spiritual Life

 •  Fathers, Set Spiritual Goals

 •  7 Guidelines for Child Training and Discipline

 •  Child Training Resources

 •  Family Nights

1. Can't Seem To Get Started? -
5 Solutions!

2. Can't Juggle Students and Preschoolers? - 6 Solutions!

3. Can't Keep Up with the Housework? -
7 Solutions!

4.  The Legality
  of Homeschooling

Attorneys and homeschooling fathers J. Michael Smith, President, (left) and Michael P. Farris, Chairman, (below) founded Home School Legal Defense Association in 1983.

Their goal: to defend and advance the constitutional rights of parents to direct the education of their children and protect family freedoms.

Farris, HSLDA Chairman and General Counsel, says:

"Because the United States Constitution is the highest law of the land, homeschooling has always been legal in all 50 states.

"It has been a bit of a fight to get the various members of the education and social services establishment to accept that fact, but great progress has been made.

"Currently about two-thirds of the states have specific laws authorizing and regulating homeschooling.

"In the balance of the states, homeschoolers may legally operate as a small private school or provide 'equivalent instruction.'

"The details vary considerably from state to state and opinions about the law vary from district to district.

"What does not vary is HSLDA's commitment to the constitutional right to teach one's children at home."

Avoid potential problems by making arrangements to comply with your state's law according to your conscience and recommendations of HSLDA and/or state organizations.

It is important to obtain a copy of your state's law pertaining to home education.  Many problems can be avoided by being accurately informed and by using tact and respect in dealing with school authorities.

HSLDA provides a summary of homeschool laws or regulations for all U.S. states and territories at www.hslda.org/laws.  (For other countries see www.hslda.org/hs/international.)

State organizations can provide information concerning your state's laws governing home education, as well as information about state-wide events and publications, and local support groups.

HSLDA provides lists of state organizations at www.hslda.org/orgs/default.asp.

Among the many benefits of HSLDA membership are:

 •  HSLDA protects your right to homeschool and defend your family.  A lawyer is on-call 24/7.

 •  HSLDA preserves homeschool freedom by promoting homeschooling and working at the federal level and with state homeschooling groups to get better laws and stop bad laws.

You can join HSLDA at http://hslda.org/a/2285898 and use discount group number 299142 for $20 off your membership fee.

Newsletter #373
Getting Your House in Order:
7 Good Questions; 7 Good Answers. Practical step-by-step plans and ideas for getting your house ready for the coming school year.

Newsletter #372
The Use of Our Summer Time.  General uses of your time, plus options for your summer schedule. Includes an Anti-Boredom Checklist!

Newsletter #369
Family Day Trips.  Day trips can do much to build family relationships and memories – plus provide enriching educational opportunities. Includes Creation Science Resources and Travel Freebies & Info.

1.  God loves you.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

2.  Man is separated from God by sin.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)  For the wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23)

3.  The death of Jesus Christ in our place is God's only provision for man's sin.

He (Jesus Christ) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

4.  We must personally receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (Eph. 2:8, 9)

We encourage you to share our e-mail newsletters in the following ways:

1.  Newsletter.  Forward the entire newsletter to your friends and support group.

2.  Articles.  Reprint articles in an e-mail or print publication.

3.  The Internet.  Articles may be posted on the Internet by observing the copyright policies below and including an active link to our website: www.TeachingHome.com.

Please observe the following copyright policies when you reprint our material:

 •  Editing.  Reprint articles unedited and in their entirety.

 •  Byline.  Include "by Cindy Short and Sue Welch," unless another author is listed.

 •  Copyright Notice and Link.  Add: "Copyright 2013 (or year published) by www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted by permission."

   •  Selected Newsletter Issues Archived Online:
   ·  Getting Your House in Order –
      7 Good Questions; 7 Good Answers.
   ·  The Use of Our Summer Time.
   ·  Family Day Trips.

In our Homeschool Foundations Series, we will consider some basics that you might use as reminders for yourself – or to help someone else start homeschooling.

We trust that this newsletter series will help you and/or a friend lay a good foundation for teaching your children at home!

Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian

The Teaching Home is a homeschool, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.

1.  How To Help Someone
  Start Homeschooling

Look around at your church, support group, relatives, or neighbors.  Is there anyone who would appreciate a little help in considering or starting to homeschool?  Here are some ways you can help.

Realistically give your convictions and reasons you homeschool, as well as your experience, both challenges and successes.

Point your friend to various sources of information, including the following.

 •  Encourage your friends and support group to sign up to receive this Homeschool Foundations Series.

 •  The Teaching Home website offers hundreds of articles, including:
Frequently Asked Questions (also in Spanish)
Articles on Getting Started
Checklist for Starting a School Year
Back Issues of The Teaching Home Magazine

 •  Basic books on home education, such as:
Homeschooling: The Right Choice by C. Klicka
The Christian Homeschool by Gregg Harris

Schedule a day or a week of homeschooling together (call it a Day Camp or something fun!).  You could work on basic skills, explore just one subject area of interest and/or do a simple unit study, such as one of the Free Homeschool Unit Studies online.

A field trip on the last day would round out a good sampling of homeschool opportunities.

Of course the best way to help someone is to pray for them and be there to answer questions and give encouragement!

2.  Steps in Making or Reaffirming
  Your Decision To Homeschool

Your decision to homeschool should be based on your determination of God's will for your family.

Reaffirming why you are teaching your children at home will provide the conviction, confidence, and commitment that you will need in order to persevere during difficult times.

Many homeschool families have found it beneficial to write out their decision to homeschool along with a list, or summary, of the reasons why they have made that decision.

These reasons for your decision will also help you explain your home education choice to others, including your children.

Seek the Lord's will for your family through His Word and pray for His promised wisdom, guidance, and strength.  Make a daily quiet time with God top priority.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all men generously and without reproach,
and it will be given to him."  James 1:5-7

It is important to agree as husband and wife on this important decision.

Maintain good communication with your spouse at each step in your decision and homeschooling process.

One parent may do most of the research, planning, or teaching, but the other should be informed and involved in decision making.

Teaching and training your children at home can provide the optimum opportunity for your children's spiritual training and character development as well as their social and academic welfare, including:

Teaching your children at home allows you to teach them God's Word and to teach all subjects from a distinctively Christian worldview.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
     Prov. 9:10

The home can also provide a safer environment in which to protect your children from destructive influences such as various temptations, false teachings, negative peer pressure, and unsafe environments.

Proven results of the individual tutoring done in home education include:

 •  Academic Excellence.  Each child can achieve his full educational potential.

 •  Independent Thinking.  Children develop confidence and independent thinking away from the peer pressure to conform and in the security of their own home.

 •  Life-long Love of Learning.  Children have time to explore individual interests.

Nurturing your children at home helps you build relationships with your children and show them how much you love them.

 •  Each child can receive individual attention and have his unique needs met.

 •  Children can gain respect for their parents as teachers.

 •  The family can experience unity, closeness, and mutual enjoyment of one another as they spend more time working together.

 •  You can help your children build lasting Christian friendships with people of all ages as they interact with church and family friends.

Christian character is as high – or higher – a priority as excellence in academics for Christian homeschool families.

When children remain with their parents, instead of being sent out of their home, more quality time is available to train and influence them in good habits, manners, and Christ-like character.

Homeschooling is a way of life in which the home is the center of life and learning.

Through home education, parents can experience in a unique way their responsibility to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

3.  Am I Qualified To Teach My Children?

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your might.

These words, which I am commanding you today,
shall be on your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your sons
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house
and when you walk by the way and when you lie down
and when you rise up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7

You have the most direct and long-term responsibility for your children before God, who commands parents to teach their children His Word, the most important thing they will learn.

You know your children better than anyone else and have the deepest love and concern for them.

You do not need to know everything in order to teach.  Your example and enthusiasm in learning with your children will motivate and encourage them.

Dr. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, says:

"The tutorial method of teaching has always been the superior method.  Home education epitomizes this method, providing essentials for success – a close student/teacher relationship, family-consistent values, motivation, flexibility, and individualization."

Dr. Ray has listed the following findings in regards to the academic performance of homeschool students:

 •  Home-educated students typically score 15 to 30 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests.

 •  Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents' level of formal education or their family's household income.

 •  Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers, is not related to their children's academic achievement.

 •  Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.

 •  Homeschool students are increasingly being actively recruited by colleges.

Read the complete Research Facts on Homeschooling online.

Dr. Brian Ray founded NHERI in 1990 and has compiled statistics from his own and others' research that has been used in court cases and legislatures worldwide to promote and defend homeschooling.

Check out the NHERI website at www.nheri.org to see more information, sign up for their mailing list, order NHERI products, and make a tax-deductible donation.