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Newsletter #402: Christian Homeschool Foundations Series, Part 1 - Archived Online. Free Newsletters made possible by the Recommended Resources advertised in this newsletter and accompanying emails. Did you like our Daily Editions this week? Send us your feedback.  Since 1980 The Teaching Home has provided families information, inspiration, and encouragement from a distinctively Christian perspective. Co-Editors: Veteran Homeschool Sisters, Sue Welch and Cindy Short |
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Sunnyside Up
Berry Scary!
Our recent trip into Yellowstone National Park through the Bear Tooth Pass was beautiful.
The only intense moment come when a Park Ranger pulled us over to announce there had been two recent grizzly bear attacks. If we followed the common-sense rules, we should be safe. "After all," she concluded, "they only eat fish and berries."
Our children's mouths dropped open and my husband cried, "Don't say berries! Our last name is Berry!"
Submitted by K. Berry, Minnesota.
Send your humorous anecdote to publisher@teachinghome.com.
Peace with God
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)
God's Word
Immerse your family in God's truth through systematic reading and study of God's Word.
The Teaching Home's
Unique Bible Reading Schedule
Features include:
• Start any month.
• Read 6 days a week
(allows for church on Sunday).
• Read 4 weeks per month
(24 days per month).
Online at TeachingHome.com.
Listen to the Bible Online. Choose from six English versions (plus Spanish and other languages) at BibleGateway.com/Audio.
Evangelism
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel . . ." Mark 16:15
Revolutionize your vision and methods of evangelism by listening to, watching, or reading "Hell's Best Kept Secret" by Ray Comfort of Living Waters.
Training
• Basic & Intermediate Training Courses by Living Waters.
• The School of Biblical Evangelism (online). "Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort have created a biblically sound course." Josh McDowell
• Free Evangelism Boot Camp and A Pocket Guide to Evangelism from Pocket Testament League.
Tracts
• Unusual and popular tracts from Living Waters.
• Gospels of John in 8 languages (attractive covers) with plan of salvation from Pocket Testament League.
• Witnessing Tools (tracts, booklets, etc.) from Answers in Genesis.
• 200+ gospel tracts (including seasonal) from Good News Tracts.
Christian Music Online 24-7
Listen to beautiful traditional, sacred, and inspirational conservative Christian music (commercial free!) when you tune in to these online stations:
• Abiding Radio. Choose from four stations: vocal, instrumental, kids, and seasonal (Christmas). Information for listening on many different devices.
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Copyright 2014 The Teaching Home
Christian Homeschool Foundations Series Part 1 “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.” |
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Christian Homeschool Foundations, Part 1
Your Decision To Homeschool
by Cindy Short and Sue Welch, co-editors
1. How To Help Someone Start Homeschooling
2. Steps in Making or Reaffirming Your Decision
Including the Homeschool Advantages
3. Am I Qualified To Teach My Children?
4. The Legality of Homeschooling
Sidebar
Selections from this week's Daily Editions
• Summer Reading: Read Aloud Together
+ Freebies: Ebooks and Audio Books
• Summer-Time Daily Learning Habits
+ FreebiesRecommended Resources
• FergNus: Homeschooler's Journals - Lesson Plan Books
• Christ-Centered Curriculum: Phonics Drill Reader
• Common Sense Press: High School Literature/Language Arts
Greetings,
In our Christian 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.
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• Keep your lesson plans and records in one handy journal. |
How To Help Someone Start Homeschooling
Use these ideas to reconfirm your own decision to homeschool or help someone else 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.
1. Tell Your Story
Realistically give your convictions and reasons you homeschool, as well as your experience, both challenges and successes.
2. Provide Information
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
3. Share an Experience
• 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!
Christ-Centered Phonics Drill Reader –
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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.
1. Seek the Lord through His Word and Prayer
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
2. Agree as Husband and Wife
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.
3. Consider the Homeschool Advantages
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.
A. Spiritual
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.
B. Academic
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.
C. Social
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.
D. Character Development
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.
Two New (3rd) Edition Gold Books
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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.
Parental and Tutorial Advantages
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."
Research Findings
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.
National Home Education Research Institute
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.
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."
Make Legal Arrangements To Homeschool
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.
1. Know Your State's Law
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.)
2. Contact Your State Homeschool Organization
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.
3. Consider joining HSLDA
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.