While many children seem to naturally understand the skills that go along with listening to stories, it is not a skill that all children intuitively learn. Since Sonlight is a literature-rich program, developing listening skills is as important as developing reading or writing skills. When we feed children information or teach them to read for it, it can get harder for them to listen for it. But being able to hear and understand is an essential skill.
Determine if Listening Skill Is the Issue
Sonlight tends to use books that are interesting and engaging wherever possible. But because not all children develop in the same areas at the same pace, a child who is ahead in reading might need more time to work on math skills. Or a child who is ahead in science might not do as well with history. It’s important, then, to determine if the issue you are having with your child is their ability to listen to stories or if the material they are listening to is simply a little bit more advanced than they are currently ready for.
There is nothing wrong with a child who isn’t quite ready yet. It simply means his or her brain might have been more devoted to sports or singing skills or math ability, and hasn’t quite caught up in listening or vocabulary quite yet. Being at different levels in different subjects or activities (asynchronous) is very normal for children, and, barring learning disorders, they usually catch up when their brain is ready to.
In the meantime, if you seem to notice your child is having trouble listening to most of what you are reading to her or him, then you might simply be working one level above their current ability. Dropping back a level will allow their brain time to develop.
But if your child is having trouble concentrating on one type of book, or at certain times of day, or sometimes does well and sometimes doesn’t, then the problem might be they have trouble listening.
Teaching Them to Pay Attention
First, make sure your child is paying attention. She may be zoning out. Stop every few sentences and ask a question about the last thing you read to see if she is listening. If she does well, extend the time between questions. For example, if I read, "John put on his red coat and went outside," I could ask "What color coat did he wear?" Between reading aloud and asking the question, I try to not change my tempo or voice to see if they are really listening.
If your child has trouble with this, do it often. Knowing you will expect it often will help his brain get used to listening for your questions, and then, get used to listening for the information in the story that might become a question, and by default, get used to listening to everything else.
Teaching Comprehension
When you believe your child is listening to the words well and is hearing what you are reading, it’s easy to transition into teaching overall comprehension. Every time you finish a daily Reader or Read-Aloud passage, ask "What are three things you learned from this chapter," or, "Tell me three things you remember about this." Let her choose any three things.
Compliment her on her choices and discuss them if you’d like. Then, respond with "The three most important things to me from this chapter were…” and then insert a good summary or narration of the passage. You might need to let your child know that you chose different key highlights because of things you remember from your past or things you found interesting, and that it’s okay if your 3 items are different from his.
If your child struggles to come up with three items, try having them find just one the first days, and then increasing up to two after a month or two, and slowly building up to three.
If your student struggles with either comprehension or listening ability, consider having him or her tested for an auditory processing disorder. They might be hearing well, but it might not be making all the connections in their brain.
You might need to combine teaching comprehension with continuing work on building listening skills for a few months.
Let Your Child Stim While Listening
While stimming (self-stimulating) behaviors (actions where your child uses repetitive movements or sounds to help them concentrate or adapt) is often found in some developmental disorders, we all self-stimulate to some degree. Whether it’s doodling on a pad of paper while listening to a lecture, or twirling our hair while on the phone, or even knitting during church service, certain behaviors help us to listen better by distracting the brain from other distractions.
But, watch for patterns. Other children will struggle to listen if there is too much movement or noise, and need to be quiet and sitting still to listen at their best.
Teach Your Child to Want to Listen
We’ve all heard boring speakers or watched documentaries that put us to sleep. Our brain is not equally engaged or excited about listening to all topics equally. There are times when listening to something is much harder work than it ought to be. When that happens, incentivize your children to listen. Offer him something to reward him for working at something hard for him, whether it be stickers or earning points toward a trip to the store, or extra screen time.
Give him a reason to want to listen.
Children are often eager learners, so learning how to listen doesn’t take most children very long, although you will find some who would rather be doing anything else rather than listening. However, teaching listening skills should gradually increase over time, and you might need to start at a lower level to really solidify those skills before moving on. In time, with continued use of a literature-rich program that uses the engaging, imagination-sparking books that Sonlight uses, will help your children to be better listeners in general, as well as better at grasping and learning information through a variety of input methods.
Do you or your kids have a little cabin fever? If so, you are definitely not alone. This time of year is often very hard for homeschoolers ... even those who aren't in the middle of a snow-packed winter or a year with a pandemic.
When I was homeschooling, I often appreciated some extra encouragement in the weeks (months?) before spring. So let me encourage you: January will end, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sooner or later, spring will come again. I promise!
I was going to offer some practical advice about how to face the winter doldrums in your family and homeschool, but I found that a fellow Sonlight mom Robin E. Williams had already put that advice into words better than my own. She composed these thoughts in 2011 and gave me permission to share them here. The original article has been updated to suit the special circumstances of 2022.
Sooner or later every homeschool mother feels it —a feeling, most commonly in January or February, of burnout, weariness, or despair that comes upon us like a slow fog or sudden storm. I call these feelings the doldrums in reference to the area near the equator known to sailors for both stagnant calms and abrupt squalls.
As the sailors in the days of the great clipper ships had to face the doldrums in order to reach their destinations, so we too must face our own doldrums to reach our goal of a successful homeschool year.
How the doldrums manifest varies from parent to parent and from year to year.
Still others may find boredom setting in. The monotony of their days seems endless, and the end of the math book so far away.
So, what’s a homeschool mom to do when staring into the face of the doldrums?
Realize the Doldrums Are Common
Well, the first thing to do is be aware that you aren’t the only one to ever feel this way. Such feelings, in one form or the other, are common among homeschoolers, especially at this time of year.
You may think it's only the pandemic and the huge shift we've all faced over the last year. Yes, that's a big part of it! But homeschool moms typically feel this friction even in the best of years.
Don’t you for one second believe that all the other moms have it all together, no matter how together they look or sound. Be willing to open up and share your feelings with another homeschooler, and you will find just how common the doldrums are.
What Not To Do
While in the grip of the doldrums is not the time to make drastic changes or decisions concerning your homeschool. It may be the doldrums are the stimulus that sends you searching for new curriculum, but delay spending money or setting anything in stone until the feelings have passed.
Give yourself time, maybe lots of time, before making any radical decisions so that you can avoid the possibility of serious regret later.
Try a Small Something New
I know I just said not to purchase all new curriculum during this time in your homeschool, but sometimes adding in a single new thing can go a long way toward breathing new life into your school year.
Sometimes the best way to get a more realistic picture of your homeschool is to get out of your home. If you haven’t been taking part in a local support group’s field trips or events, maybe now is the time to do so. The pandemic makes outings challenging, and it's easy to stay at home and grouse about our lack of options. Instead pair sunny days with outdoor activities that you can safely enjoy by bundling up in warm clothes. The sunshine will do you a world of good.
Or stay indoors and hold a family science fair. Or start making a bucket list of field trips, festivals, and museums you want to take advantage of once everything opens back fully. Sometimes just dreaming of and planning for fun you can have in the future is enough to put pep back in your step.
Another idea would be to start a new small group; the theme of the group is less important than the getting together. Let me let you in on a couple small group secrets
If you organize it, they will show up.
Other people care less about how clean your house is than you think they do.
Simplify
In normal years, I'd suggest that maybe the cause of your doldrums is that there isn’t enough home in your homeschool. It's easy to find yourself tied down and on the go with too many extracurricular activities and homeschool co-ops.
This cutting back on outside commitments has been a silver lining in the pandemic for many families. They've realized that being pulled in all directions was draining instead of enriching.
Of course, right now, we're longing for at least a bit of that helter-skelter dash to get everyone ready, out the door, and across town for an activity. Remember this feeling in 18 months when you're harried and busy. It's okay to say no when you have a plethora of options in front of you.
Don't Assume Homeschooling Is the Culprit
Maybe the problem isn’t your homeschool. Because of the day-in and day-out, intimate nature of homeschooling our children, sometimes problems that would exist whether we homeschooled or not make homeschooling more unbearable. Character issues, in the children or in you, are particularly difficult on your school day. From a habit of laziness to just plain rebellion, the possibilities are diverse.
Addressing character faults isn’t easy, but at least you can comfort yourself that it is work that would need to be done no matter what method of schooling your family used.
Another possible cause of problems that is not related directly to homeschooling is a continually messy or clutter filled home. Taking a week off your studies to focus on household deep cleaning, decluttering, and organizing may be just the ticket.
Seek Positive Help
I purposefully wrote positive help, because the middle of the homeschool doldrums is not the time to confide in a homeschool skeptic friend or relative. It would do more harm to you than good. Rather, seek those you know will give you positive and supportive help. Reach out to your spouse if at all possible, sharing that you need more prayer and understanding than before.
Lastly, I urge you to seek the help our heavenly Father. I mention this last not as an afterthought or because it is least important, but rather because if we remember best what we read last I want this to be what you remember best. He has offered us many precious promises that will sustain you during the trying times of the doldrums, but we have not because we ask not (James 4:2).
We're praying hard here at the Sonlight office for God to sustain and encourage you through 2021. May Robin's words be an encouragement as well. And may you press on toward the long-term hope to which God has called you!
A Guide to Setting Goals and Remembering the Reason You Homeschool — a free gift to you
We are excited to continue our series: Sonlight Spotlight. Each month the Sonlight team will choose a current family to highlight by sharing their #sonlightstories. If you’d like to shine a light on your family, apply here for a chance to be featured.
Meet the Shank Family!
Adam and Bonnie Shank have been homeschooling since 2010 with their children Lily (17), Jonathan (14), Josiah (12), Emmanuel (9). Their 5th child Hezekiah (age 6 months) is a future Sonlighter, listening in occasionally to what's going on, and giving his opinion when necessary.
The Shanks chose to homeschool because they felt their children's school years were an important and fleeting time in their lives and a home education would help to set the foundation for who they would become as adults. They made the decision to be the primary influence in their children's upbringing.
"We had concerns about in the public schools in the U.S., about negative peer influences, and about the tremendous amount of time our kids would spend away from home each day, starting at very young ages. In other words, we didn't want to "farm out" our responsibility to train and educate our children."
A Christ-Centered Education
Mom, Bonnie, expressed her growing family's top priority when it came to her children's education, "We want our children to have a Christ-centered education, beginning and ending all studies with the understanding that God is the One who gives us life, breath, and every good thing. We wanted to be able to share with them the exciting moments of discovery, and even the difficult struggles when concepts were hard to grasp. We wanted their character training to be as (or more) important than simply teaching them facts and information.
We wanted the truth of God and His Word to be the lense through which they viewed all other realms of knowledge. And we just plain wanted to spend time with them!"
A Literature-Rich Education
Reading has played a large role in the Shank household since their children were newborns. When a friend referred Sonlight, it seemed like a natural fit to start the literature-rich homeschool curriculum. Additionally, the preplanned lesson plans created a smooth and easy "open and go" style.
"Sonlight offers a well-organized, thorough, broad, Christ-centered, global education for families."
An International Education
Living in a third world country (a remote village in Africa!) as part of a Bible translation team, Adam and Bonnie knew many other families in their mission organization also used Sonlight curriculum to school their children, so they were able to a share similar journey in the foreign field.
A Flexible Education
The Shanks are back stateside now and currently living and operating a family farm in the Midwest taking full advantage of one of homeschooling's biggest perks: flexibility.
"Our school day typically involves waking up and taking care of barn chores and animals first thing in the morning, followed by breakfast, family worship, inside chores, table subjects, piano practice, etc. While no day ever really goes as smoothly as we envision in our idealistic imaginations, we are still all grateful for the freedom and ability we have to homeschool. Our kids wouldn't want it any other way, and neither would we!"
One of the best things about Sonlight books is that there are no boring textbooks to gather dust or donate to the thrift store! "Sonlight books will be enjoyed over and over again, and will become like old friends. The memories you create and the discussions you have, as you learn together, forge a bond that strengthens the family unit," Bonnie concludes.
We are excited to continue our series: Sonlight Spotlight. Each month the Sonlight team will choose a current family to highlight by sharing their #sonlightstories. If you’d like to shine a light on your family, apply here for a chance to be featured.
Meet the Portes Medina Family!
Originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sara and Ronal along with their three-year-old son Eduardo, “Edu” are currently working through Sonlight’s Preschool Program (and, “Loving it!").
Mom Sara has an Early Childhood Education background with a Master’s Degree in Education that provides insights on the type of schooling she wants for Edu.
"I studied abroad and met some wonderful homeschool families, so even before we got married, the idea was in our heads. When Edu was born we saw the benefits of teaching him, being with him, and being his primary influence. We saw the fruits of that and decided to stick with it instead of joining a private or public school."
The Portes Medina’s were researching homeschool curriculums, and they had a specific set of criteria on educational programs. Their requirements included the following:
Curriculum that aligns with their faith and values
An educational philosophy with a strong foundation
Literature-rich programs
When they came across Sonlight, they quickly realized those boxes were checked and more.
"We are bookworms, so when we encountered Sonlight with the literature and beautiful books, we fell in love with the idea of teaching with tons of books. The philosophy of why you educate with books that aren't textbooks really appealed to us."
Confirmation came from dad Ronal, "I see that he is learning way more (with homeschooling) than he would have in regular school."
Homeschooling Abroad
Schooling looks different in the Dominican Republic.
“In our country, homeschooling is not that popular. That is why the support and advice from the Sonlight Connections Community is a huge blessing to us.”
In addition to community support, Sonlight provides a personal library of books no matter how many other options are available.
“We don't have libraries (in the Dominican Republic) where you can check out books. You can go there to read them but not bring them home. The fact that we have #sonlightboxday with everything we actually need is really nice and encouraged us to continue. We are assured to have everything we need when we place a Sonlight order. We're really excited about all the books we're going to get with future levels!" - Sara states.
Bilingual Homeschooling
On Sonlight school days, the family speaks, writes, and learns in English. On non-school days for extra-curricular activities, like Edu’s art classes, only Spanish is spoken. They plan to continue the same practice during their homeschool journey to promote both languages.
“As a bilingual family, it helps and inspires us to get the books he really loves in our mother tongue as well. That's been really nice.”
Routine
Routine for the Portes Medina’s is extremely important and necessary for this active family of three. A typical school day begins around 9:00am as they dive into their Sonlight Preschool program.
"I wake up an hour before Edu to have my quiet time. That really helps me with my attitude to have time with the Lord. The preschool program has given me great ideas because it's Montessori-inspired. It's great how Sonlight gives you ideas to get the kids involved in chores - teaching how to wash the dishes, make the bed, and set the table. The Instructor’s Guide ideas help him be involved in our day-to-day life.”
One of the advantages the Portes Medina family has found homeschooling with Sonlight is the flexibility to adjust their schedule as they see fit. Once Edu has completed his daily curriculum, they head outside and enjoy the warm Dominican weather at a local park or enjoy playdates with other children.
“We adore the book selection, and the activities are developmentally appropriate. The Preschool Hands-on Materials are great!”
Sara confirms teaching Edu with a literature-rich curriculum has been a blessing saying, "We have confirmation from the Lord that this is the path he wants for us."
You can learn more about the Portes Medina family’s Sonlight experience by listening to their full interview on the Sonlight Connections podcast.
Last month, we highlighted recent Sonlight Scholarship winners. There were so many success stories we decided to feature a second group of these incredible young adults.
Since 1990, Sonlight has been blessed to be a significant part of the educational foundation to so many students across the nations. Sonlight’s President, Sarita Holzmann, wanted to support Sonlight students beyond their homeschool graduation.
The Sonlight Scholarship Foundation was created, and each year, the scholarship committee evaluates applicants, selects winners, and awards $4,000 to $20,000 total to each.
We offer scholarships based on two different sets of criteria. One puts greater weight on academic performance, and the other focuses on mission mindedness and acts of kindness. If you are a high school senior, we encourage you to apply here. Deadline is December 1, 2021.
From leading businesses to academia, churches to the mission field, from neighborhoods to home - we are grateful to have been part of these amazing students’ lives.
Meet Anna R. 2021 Sonlight Graduate
Anna R. is a recent Sonlight Graduate and is currently attending Wheaton College and studying biochemistry.
When asked how her Sonlight prepared her for college and beyond, Anna states: “I have learned to prioritize what I care most about and individualize my learning to the way I learn best. I've also learned to be more independent with my assignments.”
“There are so many ways to learn. As a parent, don't let yourself be trapped in a box of formal assignments/curriculum and fail to explore what your child is curious about.” is the advice Anna offers to homeschool teachers.
Anna encourages students to:
Split Photo of Anna
“Find something you are so passionate about that you never want to stop learning about it. Let that motivate you to work towards your goals. Don't let people discourage you from pursuing what you are interested in, but also don't be afraid to ask for help. No one can do it all alone!”
Meet Jeoffrey D. 2018 Sonlight Graduate
Upon Sonlight graduation, Jeoffrey attended Lansing Community College for two years where he attained an associates degree, and is currently finishing his bachelors in Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University.
“Homeschooling taught me the value of planning, beginning with the end in mind, knowing where to prioritize your time and energy and how to effectively handle multiple projects at one time. This has greatly helped me in my adult life and equipped me well to succeed in college and beyond.
Jeoffrey’s advice to both homeschool leaders and students is would be to utilize your time as best as you can. “Be intentional with activities, relationships, your faith, and passions. Work hard at work worth doing and everything will fall into place.”
“Homeschooling equipped me for adulthood by teaching me to take ownership of life. As a homeschooled student, I had to ownership of my time, attention, schedule, and academic life from an early age.” - Jeoffrey D.
One last tip from this young man is to, “Allow for pursuit of passions outside the classroom and make room for extracurricular pursuits. Emphasize character development and the meaning behind the school work and most importantly, emphasize and build a mindset of continuous learning and a thirst for knowledge.”
Meet Kaycie C. 2018 Sonlight Graduate
After graduation, Kaycie attended New Saint Andrews College, where she is currently finishing up her senior year with a NSA Liberal Arts degree. This field has sharpened Kaycie’s analytical and communication skills while showing her what faithfulness looks like in serious scholarship. Kaycie also got married this summer to her husband Josiah and they plan to move to Seattle for career growth.
Kaycie provides insights on how her experience applying to Sonlight’s Scholarship was great preparation for applying to schools and future jobs. She encourages high school seniors, “To see it as an opportunity to train how to present themselves professionally, and to enjoy the process regardless of whether or not they receive a scholarship.”
She learned the importance of finding the balance between school work and friends/church, and not becoming a slave to her own schedule.
Kaycie’s favorite Sonlight book is William Zisner's book On Writing Well. which allowed her to succeed in her college assignments.
“It's easy to compare yourself to a public school and think how much better your education is–but with true education comes true humility, as you recognize what you really don't know!” - Kaycie C.
One last tidbit from Kaycie is: “Push your kids. Expect high standards of them. Don't let them settle. My mom had us rewrite assignments over and over again until we did them well. Your kids will thank you for requiring excellence.”
Meet Daniel N. 2017 Sonlight Graduate
Sonlight and John Brown University graduate Daniel N. is currently working as an Applications Engineer at Texas Instruments in Dallas, supporting the use of TI's semiconductors in power electronics.
Outside of work he volunteers with the children's ministry at his church, and enjoys cooking and wood carving.
“Homeschooling taught me how to learn and think critically. In a new city with a new job I am constantly learning. At work many of the systems I am supporting were not covered in school, so I need to be able to do research myself to get up to speed quickly. Outside of work I am able to manage my finances, my housing, whatever it may be, by doing my research and thinking critically, skills homeschooling taught me early on.” Daniel states.
One of his favorite Sonlight memories is completing science experiments including dissections and titration in the kitchen with his brothers. Daniel really enjoyed going beyond the prescribed experiments, testing other conditions that sparked further curiosity.
“Homeschooling provides an opportunity for students to develop a love of learning, and for parents to learn alongside their kids. As I see it, the primary requirement for a successful homeschool is a family that has a desire to learn.” - Daniel N.
Meet Grace A. 2019 Sonlight Graduate
After graduation, Grace started school at Kingswood University where she is third year pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Business as Ministry.
Grace attributes Sonlight for helping her not only learn facts and information, but also to “develop critical thinking skills and to be a person of integrity. This equipped me well for adulthood, for communicating well with others, being responsible and hardworking, and thinking for myself.”
Some advice she offers to high schoolers and college students is to be intentional about setting good habits and goals for studying and life. “Now is a very formative time, and the routines, habits, and priorities that you establish for yourself will carry with you into the seasons of life to follow.”
“Homeschooling provides a unique opportunity for you to specifically shape the curriculum to fit with your child's learning style, interests, and talents. It results in a lot of good memories and a rewarding education for your children that can prepare them for life.” - Grace A.
Grace’s favorite memory from Sonlight is reading history books with her brother and mom while making lunch every day.
Sonlight counts it a huge blessing when hearing about all of the great success stories from our recent graduates. These young adults are truly making an impact in our world in no small part because of their Sonlight educations. With a Sonlight education, your children will not merely absorb basic information, but, far more, they’ll develop an inquisitive spirit and love for learning. With Sonlight, you set the stage for your students to continue learning even after they have completed their formal education.
Are you thinking of making the switch to homeschooling, or looking for some best practices to bolster your existing homeschool routine? Whether you’re looking for homeschool tips for beginners, tips for successful homeschooling during COVID-19, or tips for homeschooling as working parents, this collection of tried-and-true tricks can help anyone have a great homeschool year. We’ll answer common questions and share our best advice for successful homeschooling.
How Many Hours a Day Do You Homeschool?
Sonlight reports it typically takes about 2 to 4 hours of formal instruction for a kindergartener to complete daily work. A sixth grader will spend 4 to 6 hours while a twelfth grader will spend 6 to 8 hours.
The important thing to remember is homeschool doesn’t have to mirror typical classroom learning.
Charlotte Mason, a historic British educator beloved by many homeschool families, is often quoted as saying, “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.” In other words, remember the first part of the word homeschool is home. Your children will be in your home all day, in many cases. There are nearly endless opportunities for learning.
Learning at home also doesn’t need to mean searing your eyeballs in front of a computer screen for the length of a traditional school day. Many homeschool families find they can complete homeschool work in a fraction of the time of a traditional school day—and with enjoyable resources like great books.
During the 2020-2021 school year the percent of homeschooling households in America more than tripled, up to nearly 20 percent, making the practice far from uncommon. If you find yourself homeschooling unexpectedly thanks to school closures or have chosen to homeschool because of the COVID-19 pandemic, remember these three key tips:
Prioritize connection over curriculum. Whether you’re choosing to learn at home or feel pressured into the decision, homeschooling is a terrific opportunity to build a relationship with your child. No math worksheet will ever be more important than that.
Take it slow, especially at first. If you plan to homeschool all year, allow your kids a brief period of deschooling for you all to get used to this new normal. Some families also start with one or two subjects and slowly add in others.
Go at your own pace. Want to know a classroom teacher's secret? They never finish the entire textbook in a year! So you don’t have to either! Set your own pace.
What Is a Good Homeschool Schedule?
A good homeschool schedule is the one that works best for you and your family. Your schedule can outline what times during the day, which days of the week, and when during the year you have homeschool lessons. As a homeschool family, your options are almost endless, as long as you meet any state requirements.
Scheduling Homeschool Days
Making the switch from a structured school classroom to learning at home can seem overwhelming. The good news is you don’t have to replicate a classroom at home or ring a bell between classes (although you could). But keeping to a routine, even a loose one, is helpful for most families.
Many families follow this kind of daily routine, studying the same subjects at about the same time each day.
Later morning hours cover Table Subjects™ like math and language arts where students work independently at their own academic levels.
Read-alouds are a natural fit during lunch, afternoon snack break, or tea time.
Many families finish schoolwork by lunch, leaving the afternoon for other activities. Shorter homeschool days leave more time for family activities, field trips, extracurriculars, special interests, or free time.
Scheduling the Homeschool Year
Similarly, homeschool families may choose a school calendar that works best for them: a traditional schedule, learning year-round, or any variation in between.
Above all, flexibility is key because one of the nicest aspects of homeschooling is the ability to chase rabbit trails when a student is particularly interested in a topic. Take more time as needed on a difficult subject rather than racing through to the finish.
Sonlight Instructor’s Guides make scheduling simple, no matter how you choose to schedule your homeschool. Subjects are color-coded and broken down into suggested activities for a 180-day school year. Many parents simply check off a box as they complete each item. Here is a walk-through of how to use the Instructor’s Guide.
Didn’t complete all the items on the day they were prescribed? No problem at all. The Instructor’s Guide is just that–a guide, meant to work for you. Each family makes it their own.
Homeschool Tips and Tricks: Tips for a Great Homeschool Year
So how do you combine your curriculum and your schedule into something that actually works for your kids day to day? What are the practical nitty-gritty secrets that get you through an entire school year while nurturing a zest for learning?
Best Practices for Homeschooling
Although there are about a dozen different homeschool styles and each family is unique, there are some overarching principles that nearly every family follows. Here are those universal, best practices for homeschooling:
1. Be Clear About Your Motivations
One of the best homeschool tips is to have a solid reason why you’re choosing to homeschool. Write it down, journal it, or post it on your fridge—whatever works best to keep it front and center.
While you may choose to homeschool to escape something fearful, a more inspiring and long-lasting perspective that will carry you through the rough days of homeschooling is to have a positive aim in mind.
To help you crystalize your homeschool motivations and goals and get them on paper, use this free Refuel Your Homeschool printable.
And be sure to revise your motivations periodically. While some core reasons will never change, you may find your homeschool priorities morph over time. Some families find that the reason they began homeschooling is not why they keep going.
2. Find Homeschool Community
Feeling alone is a terrible burden. So don’t let yourself get there! Find the support that ministers to your heart and cling to it.
For some moms, community means that one bestie who is always on tap to debrief a bad day or provide a voice of sanity when you’re second-guessing yourself.
For other moms, the vibrance of an in-person group with regular meeting times is what fills their cup.
Whether you’re in the bestie camp or the weekly moms-group camp, all of us can find bonus community support via virtual networking. For example, the (zero fee) Sonlight app offers a no-drama, no-advertising platform for connecting with other parents who know exactly what you’re going through.
3. Choose Your Curriculum Carefully
Your biggest homeschool expense will be your curriculum. And generally, it’s something you use for the full school year. So making the wrong choice can be painful not only to your budget but also to your morale if you hate it!
Talk to a representative from the companies you’re considering before swiping that card. They can help you avoid costly mistakes.
4. Keep Family First
Whatever curriculum you choose, whether you’re a homeschool veteran or just starting out, the best tip is to enjoy the time spent with your kids. Every day won’t be perfect. But the memories you’ll make together will be priceless.
While you’re agonizing over which math curriculum to choose and wondering if your child is getting behind in reading, remember that the most important part of your job as a homeschool mom or dad lies in your relationship with your child. Homeschool lessons will end one day! But your relationship with your child will be a lifelong source of joy and blessing. So always keep the main thing the main thing.
Academics, extracurriculars, and organization are all important. But the family bond of love is the heart of it all. Whenever faced with a homeschool decision, the family bond takes precedence over any other consideration.
Tips for the First-Year Homeschooler
About 9-12 weeks into your first year homeschooling you’re probably thinking,
“Oh my goodness...what have we done?”
You are knee-deep in overwhelm, right? Let me reassure you….
This feeling is 100% normal.
If I can be very honest, eight years into this homeschooling gig, that feeling is still occasionally normal for me.
Let’s face it. We have chosen to take our children’s education into our hands. Hands that sometimes don’t feel qualified. It can be daunting.
But nothing is more daunting than that feeling the very first year. I still remember ours. I had decided to piece together the curriculum for my first grader. I can’t decide if I was totally naïve, or just overly ambitious... probably a mix of both, really.
I remember being about a fourth of the way through the school year, thinking, “Oh my...this is way harder than I thought! Maybe we made a huge mistake!”
If I could go back in time and reassure my first-year self, here’s what I’d say…
1. Survive Your First Year
I’m forever convinced that people who choose Sonlight right out of the gate are at a huge advantage, but I’m sure that even those moms and dads have that moment of panic when the big box arrives. Here’s what you need to know about the first year: You just need to survive it.
You and your child are learning so much this first year. Just get through it. Don’t worry about having things set up just so. Don’t worry about checking every box. Just finish the year.
2. Set the Tone
This first year will set the tone for your homeschooling adventure. This year, you need to focus on the fundamentals of homeschooling, and I actually don’t mean reading, writing, and arithmetic! I mean relationships, expectations, and procedures.
Relationships
Focus on your personal relationships with your children.
Value connection over academics.
Enjoy your children as often as you can.
Study them to know their likes and dislikes.
I always like to challenge myself with this: If someone were to ask me to describe my child, could I do a thorough job? Strive to deeply know and enjoy your children.
Expectations
This is the year you will begin to establish expectations. Don’t stress too much. Your expectations will change as your children grow older, but you’ll need to get a good start this year.
First, establish expectations in the home. Since your children are home rather than at school all day, they will be able to help with the housework. What are your expectations there? Keep in mind that a huge part of life is learning how to deal with housework, so time spent on chores is not wasted.
Next, consider your schoolwork expectations. Do you expect them to work mostly independently or will you be available during certain hours? What happens if they dawdle? Will you let it slide, or will there be a consequence?
Year number one is the best year to instill your expectations. Now, don’t despair. If you are well past your rookie year, it’s certainly not too late. It’s just much easier to set expectations in that first year before bad habits set in.
Procedures
Many public schools spend the first week of school establishing procedures for the classroom. While homeschoolers generally don’t have to devote so much time to logistics, it is important to establish procedures in the first year.
You’ll want to make sure that your child knows where to gather supplies, where they should do their work, and how supplies should be cleaned up after tasks. Teaching these simple procedures early in your homeschool journey will save a surprising amount of time in the long term.
3. Celebrate
You and your family are doing a big thing! It should be celebrated! That first year is a prime time to learn to enjoy each other. Homeschooling families spend a lot of time together, so families need regular times to blow off steam and relax together.
Find big things to celebrate. Find little things to celebrate!
You made it through your first week? Yay! You should take everyone out for a park play-day!
You completed your first biology dissection with limited gagging? Way to go guys! You should go grab a snow-cone!
Your kiddo finished their very first Sonlight reader? Wow! That deserves an outdoor picnic I think!
Your first year holds the potential for thousands of small and big celebrations. Take advantage. Those are good memories you’re making!
In a nutshell, your rookie year is all about learning and growing together. Focus on the big things this year instead of the little things. Think about the big picture. Remember why you’re doing this, and keep your eyes on that single goal. You’re going to have your moments, but everyone has moments. You can do this!
Christian Homeschool Tips
If you’re homeschooling as a Christian, you have an added motivation. By educating at home, you can provide your child an environment which nurtures their faith in Jesus. You can speak freely about the Bible and your beliefs and interject those truths into every subject you learn together.
1. Find Your Faith-based Goals for Homeschooling
There are plenty of secular reasons to homeschool: a superior education that’s tailored to each child, flexible scheduling, and room for student-led exploration. But when you tap into your Christian faith as inspiration for homeschooling, you find a deeper motivation!
A Christian homeschool education does not have to mean indoctrination or brainwashing. Quite the contrary! You can impart Christian principles and study the Bible while also teaching your children to understand and respectfully engage with opposing views. Be sure to provide multiple perspectives as part of your teaching. This may be as simple as a discussion to see both sides of an event from history. Or it could involve actually reading books that tell the same story through different lenses.
3. Shelter Your Children In (But Not From) the World
“My sheltered childhood was like a day at the beach: sun, shells, bikinis, beach balls, and all. The sheltering I had was a shaded awning, like something made from bamboo and dried palm fronds. The sea-breeze could flow in with the sights and sounds of life. I could go out and come back. I had a safe place to be, protected from rain and cold. I was not tossed alone into the world. I was sheltered, covered, protected . . . and free.
Sure, I got sand in my shorts. The air occasionally was fishy. Sometimes I got sunburned.
But despite this mild discomfort, my parents let me dig moats, fly kites, talk to people, explore, run, play, discover.
The world was open to me, and I was encouraged to interact with it and, in doing so, to exhibit God's love and grace to any and all whom I met along the way.
Life does not disrupt the kind of sheltering I had. Because as we read our Bibles and various biographies and learn together, we encounter complex characters and situations. We learn about life. Like anyone, we can be disheartened and disillusioned. But we're not huddled in a house, hoping nothing gets in. We are standing on the shore, looking out.
Sheltered.”
It’s a beautiful picture of the kind of sheltering we want to provide our children: a sheltering that gives them tools to engage kindly with the world, not one that causes them to wall themselves away from society in an angry huddle.
3. Teach Them to Think and Let Them Wrestle
As you teach your child to think critically, you may find them disagreeing with you from time to time. Take this as a sign of success not failure! Wrestling is key to owning your own faith.
In Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith, Tom Bisset explains a key reason kids abandon Christianity: “They left because they never personally owned their faith.”
A personal testimony is something kids have to strive to attain. They have to ask hard questions and come to their own answers. Spoon feeding them the right answers is not enough to anchor them to faith. Expose them to big ideas and have discussions about them.
Maintain a humble sense of wonder and curiosity so you can learn alongside your child. While we base our lives on the bedrock truth of the gospel, there remain many mysteries we cannot fully comprehend. Embrace this uncertainty and let your child see how your own understanding is constantly developing and how it deepens, not diminishes, your belief.
Before you read the basic tips for homeschooling kindergarten below, take a deep breath. You absolutely can do this—yes, even teaching your child to read. It’s really not that hard to teach a child how to read, and there are so many great curriculum options to guide you step by step.
Leave your anxiety behind and embrace the delight of teaching your child. Remember, your mood sets the tone!
1. Build a Predictable Routine
To prepare your child for homeschooling, establish a daily routine. This predictable rhythm will give your child a sense of safety and will smooth the transitions from activity to activity.
This routine does not have to be clock-based at all! It’s simply a sequential flow of your day, for example from breakfast to reading time to playtime to lunchtime to nap time, and so on. Of course, some days will be exceptions to the rule, but setting up this comfortable pattern will make formal schooling easier to ease into.
2. Ease into Formal Schooling
Having a fully planned kindergarten curriculum will give you peace of mind and eliminate the time-consuming task of lesson planning. So, yes, get a solid kindergarten curriculum! But hold it loosely, always taking cues from your child.
The biggest mistake an eager young homeschool mom makes is to push too hard too soon. So take your time! If your child is resistant or frustrated, put it aside and try again in a few months. Or lay out all the goodies from your curriculum and let your child choose what to work on.
School doesn’t take long at this stage—just 1-2 hours a day is plenty! So don’t force your child to sit at a table for hours on end with pencil in hand. Make sure your kindergarten is age-appropriate with lots of hands-on exploration and listening to great books.
3. Nurture Curiosity and a Love of Learning
Above all, make it your goal to nurture your child’s natural curiosity and ignite a love of learning. Working through the curriculum is far less important than accomplishing these two.
Welcome rabbit trails and “What if …” questions, letting them take over your day if your child is excited about them! Let your child know that the goal of each school day is learning and that learning is so fun!
Shun busy work that typically bores and tires young children. Instead, fill their minds with great stories and then discuss them! Yes, it’s really this simple.
High School Homeschool Tips
Your goal for the high school years is not just graduation but raising a self-sufficient adult! Here are the three ingredients you need: independent learning, accountability, and autonomy.
1. Ease into Independent Learning
Just as you ease into formal schooling for a kindergartener, you need to ease into independent learning for a high schooler. By all means, don’t go straight from parent-led instruction to totally independent work. A gradual increase in solo work is the best path to take.
You’ll probably begin this process in middle school (or even 5th grade for some more motivated learners), giving them the reins to work one or two of their daily assignments alone. At first, it may be just a few reading passages or math activities done solo. As time goes on though, a teen can do more and more without your direct supervision. Check out our steps for teaching independent learners at different ages.
2. Provide Accountability
Even the most responsible of teens can get behind if they don’t have predictable check-ins to monitor their progress. So be sure to give your teens the support they need even if they seem to bristle against it.
3. Give Autonomy
Without autonomy, teens become listless and anxious. In fact, autonomy is the primary contributor to life satisfaction. Talk with your teen about their academic and life goals. Listen to what they say, and as much as possible, make room for their concerns and preferences.
Make sure they have ownership in homeschool curriculum decisions and extracurricular pursuits. Be the facilitator of their goals, knowing that high school is the first step towards higher education and/or a career. Read here to learn more about homeschool graduation requirements.
Homeschooling Tips for Working Parents
Can you work and homeschool? Absolutely! A large proportion of homeschool parents have a part-time job or side gig and manage to successfully educate their kids at home. And some parents who work from home are able to juggle full-time jobs!
1. Flex Your Schedule
Release yourself from the 7:45 am to 3:15 pm school day box. Look at all the waking hours of your week as potential homeschool hours. Don’t forget evenings and weekends. Here are just a few flexible scheduling ideas to get your wheels turning:
Save all of your science for Saturday mornings. Do the full week in one fell swoop.
Use time on the road for audiobooks, independent reading time, discussing Read-Alouds, practicing math facts, going over vocabulary workbooks, etc.
2. Become a Time Management Pro
Since time is what the working homeschool parent typically feels most limited by, time management lies at the crux of any tips for working parents.
We already know that a homeschooling schedule is incredibly malleable. But depending on the flexibility and variability of your work demands, you may prefer rigid time blocking or a looser routine.
One way to get more homeschool value from your time is to overlap subjects. For example, with a literature-based curriculum, your children learn history and language arts at the same time with the same program. Topics like vocabulary and geography come up organically and don’t require a separate curriculum. This holistic approach to education means that you streamline your day and teach in a much more connected way that actually makes the material stick.
Another pro tip for time management is to rely on an open-and-go, fully planned curriculum. Lesson planning, reserving books from the library, and researching activities are incredibly time consuming. Use tools that save you time instead of squandering your precious hours reinventing the wheel.
3. Adjust Your Expectations
As a working homeschool parent, you will have to choose your battles. You may have to release the desire for
An always tidy and sanitized home
Three homemade meals each day
Matching socks and perfectly fixed hair
It’s okay to opt for takeout or use frozen shortcuts for mealtimes. And your home is just going to be messier since you’re there all day! As far as personal appearance, you may decide that pajamas are an acceptable work and school from home uniform!
Come up with a minimum viable homeschool day and commit to getting at least that much done daily. But let the extras go—guilt-free—on the days when you’ve got a pressing work deadline or there are errands to run. Your minimum viable homeschool day may be as little as reading, spelling, and math. But set that bar ahead of time so you don’t feel like a failure when you ditch science and the Timeline book for a week.
4. Invest in Child Training and Processes
While you’re adjusting those expectations, realize that you aren’t the be-all-end-all. Your children can help!
Could you train your children on how to load the dishwasher or how to clean the bathrooms? Would a weekly chore chart divide the labor and keep everyone accountable? Yes, it takes time to teach kids how to do these tasks (and follow up when they slack). But in the long run, you gain considerable benefits of time savings and a tidier home! Your children master practical life skills and get to contribute to the working of the family. It’s a win-win.
Would a defined process for meal planning, prep, and cleanup improve efficiency, lower your own stress, and ensure that the family isn’t resorting to frozen burritos three nights a week? If yes, take the time to put it in place.
When we run through each day in a crisis mode, it feels impossible to make changes like these. So think about your next day off when there is no school or work. Call it infrastructure day! And invest in setting up routines that get your kids involved in making the home run more smoothly.
Do Homeschoolers Get a Better Education?
As a homeschool parent, you’re bound to have days of doubt.
But be assured that yes, you are giving your kids the best education they can get. Because you love your children more than anyone else could, you are the most motivated person on the planet to give them a high-quality education.
Ask most homeschoolers and they would agree, their education is better than one they would receive elsewhere, for a few main reasons.
First, homeschooling is individualized education. Parents can tailor curriculum to a student’s learning style, pace, and interests. They can choose curriculum based on what’s important to their family, whether that’s a Christian background, a focus on the classics, instilling a love of literature (or all three!).
Homeschooling also offers the smallest possible class size, greater focus, a shorter and likely more effective school day, and less time dealing with transitions and classroom mechanics. Young children, with shorter attention spans, can get up and move when they need to, not according to an arbitrary classroom schedule. Older children can get the rest they so often need, perhaps sleeping later and starting their school day mid- or late-morning instead of sometimes before the sun is even up.
With more time and greater flexibility, students can also pursue what interests them. Homeschooling creates lifeline learners—an ultimate goal for many parents.
What Are the Disadvantages of Being Homeschooled?
People unfamiliar with learning at home may have questions, and sometimes misinformed opinions, about homeschool life. In reality, the disadvantages of homeschooling are few and far between and fairly simple to resolve.
Academic Add-ons and Extracurriculars
While a public school may have the resources for elaborate classroom setups, complete libraries, computer and science labs, gyms, bands, and art rooms, a homeschooler has more modest means to provide this kind of tangible enrichment.
If your child feels a loss in this area, talk about what they are wanting more of and find creative ways to supply it for them. With programming at local museums and zoos and a homeschool co-op, most of these supposedly lost perks can be replaced or even improved upon!
The Stereotypical Trappings of School
Some kids may long for a school locker, eating with friends in the cafeteria, playing sports on big teams, performing in the marching band, attending the homecoming parade, or going to prom. As a homeschooler, their school experience will mostly be devoid of these traditional aspects of public school (especially high school).
But there are alternatives! Some public schools include homeschoolers in sports or band. And many homeschool groups hold their own dances and field trips. You can even buy your homeschooler a class ring or create a homeschool yearbook!
Loneliness
Don’t let the myth of the unsocialized homeschooler become a reality for your child! If you’re a homebody introvert who is homeschooling an extroverted social butterfly, it will take special attention to make sure your child isn’t lonely or isolated. Again, this is not impossible to overcome; it simply takes a concerted effort. Keep the lines of communication open with your child so you can modulate their need for more (or less) social time with peers.
Disadvantages for Parents Who Homeschool
From the parent’s perspective, there are sacrifices you’ll make as a homeschooler. These aren’t necessarily disadvantages as much as realities that you’ll need to account for as you make the choice to homeschool.
1. Time Commitment
Homeschooling requires a deep commitment from parents. While using a curriculum like Sonlight makes it simple, investing time in your child’s education is a journey that requires work but reaps rich rewards. It’s not as easy as dropping your children off at a public school and simply inquiring about homework each day. Homeschooling is the time and energy commitment of at least a part-time job.
2. Isolation
Being a stay-at-home parent can feel isolating at times. But with the proliferation of homeschool co-ops, civic groups, online networks, and other organizations, there are a myriad of ways to find your community. Make self-care a priority, and be sure to have hobbies and friends that are outside of your homeschool bubble so that your entire identity is not wrapped up in solely being a homeschool parent.
3. Responsibility
Although parenting is a huge responsibility itself, when you take on your children’s education, there’s another layer of gravity. While it’s essential to take this role seriously, it’s counterproductive to feel paralyzed by fear of making mistakes. When responsibility becomes a painful burden, it’s time to call in reinforcements—maybe ask for help from your spouse or friend, maybe see a therapist, or possibly talk to a Sonlight Advisor.
Are Homeschoolers More Successful?
No form of education can guarantee a particular outcome for a student. But homeschooling does offer the opportunity to develop into more self-directed, creative learners than students might otherwise be. An educational career spent in thoughtful discussions over quality literature and with ample time for extracurricular pursuits is bound to create a very particular kind of student.
For evidence-based research about the success of homeschoolers, see the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). Here are two key articles that demonstrate the efficacy of homeschooling:
Yes, colleges care. But not in the way you may assume. Most colleges welcome homeschoolers rather than shun them! Being homeschooled is an asset, not a drawback when it comes to college admissions.
So don’t let the idea of college scare you away from homeschooling through the high school years. Remember Charlotte Mason and her idea that education is “an atmosphere, a discipline, a life?” That holds true for colleges, too. Getting into college and succeeding there isn’t merely about a grade point average or a stellar application essay. Most colleges are looking for students who want to learn:
Who have strong study skills
Who know how to research
Who can effectively write
Who actively engage inside (and outside) the classroom
Who aren’t afraid to ask good questions
These are qualities most homeschool students have mastered by high school graduation.
Homeschool students understand the value of self-driven, efficient education. These are qualities employers value, too. A study from the Homeschool Legal Defense Association showed that more than 74 percent of home-educated adults ages 18-24 had taken college-level courses, compared to 46 percent of the general US population. It also showed they are more likely to be involved in their communities and engaged citizens, and that they are glad they were homeschooled.
Consider that a typical homeschooler might spend an average week bouncing between co-op classes, extracurricular activities, church meetings, field trips, and outings with friends or family. Now consider the wide age range (birth to elderly) a student is likely to regularly interact with at these events. It’s much broader than a typical grade-level classroom, giving homeschoolers a genuine breadth of experience that boosts their emotional quotient.
Instead of being influenced mainly by the narrow confines of a grade-level peer group, children are influenced at home and by other avenues parents choose. Far from being socially awkward, homeschool parents often receive compliments on how skilled children are at navigating social situations with people of all ages.
In short, no, homeschoolers aren’t socially awkward due to being homeschooled.
How Expensive Is Homeschooling?
There are many factors to consider when figuring the cost of homeschooling. But the average homeschool family spends between around $700 to $1,800 per year. While it is possible to spend less, keep in mind the value of the materials you’re using.
A complete homeschool curriculum package is an open-and-go option that makes it simple to homeschool (a great option for working parents to consider). You might spend less money than the averageif you opt for DIY unit studies, but spend more time tracking down materials and putting together a schedule. Or you may spend more money than the average if you enroll your child in an online homeschool program which costs thousands of dollars per year, per child.
How Much Should I Pay Someone to Homeschool My Child?
You’re not alone in your homeschool journey. Help is available if you need it. Check your state regulations, but chances are you can pay someone to assist in schooling your children—whether that’s a math tutor, extra help a few mornings a week, or simply music lessons. Parents of children with special needs should consider that therapy as school, too. Everyone from speech to occupational therapists can be part of your teaching team.
How much you might pay outside help will vary based on expertise, experience, and their specific function in your child’s academic life. Tutoring costs may range from $25 to $80 per hour, depending on several factors. You may pay more for private horseback riding lessons than you would for a county soccer league, but both are great options for physical activity. Other options to share teaching responsibilities may be joining a homeschool co-op or other learning group where the labor is divided among parents.
Do Parents Get Paid for Homeschooling?
While you cannot get paid for homeschooling your own child, you can get paid while homeschooling, whether by tutoring a student from outside your family (if your state allows it), by working a part-time job, or by freelancing. Some parents even work full-time while homeschooling.
A few states offer families the chance to apply for benefits on taxes or stipends if they meet certain criteria, but this is not common.
So in general, no, parents are not paid monetarily to homeschool. But that’s not to say that homeschooling is without rewards! There are so many intangible and priceless benefits to homeschooling that very few families regret the investment into their children. In fact, most parents are sad that they didn’t start sooner!
Parents commonly cite these invaluable perks of homeschooling: less anxiety and stress (compared to attending school), closer family bonds, the ability to tailor an education for the child, and flexibility in scheduling and pacing. So while you won’t get a paycheck for homeschooling, you will certainly be blessed by the results it brings!
Gifts are an exciting part of Christmas. Many of us give gifts to honor Jesus and his amazing gift of eternal life. Others of us give gifts to emulate the three wise men who sought to honor the Christ Child. Regardless of the reason, Christmas gift giving is a wonderful way to teach financial literacy as a Christian homeschool family.
