BJU Press Blog

Megan

Megan

About Megan

Megan is a writer and a homeschool mom with four daughters—a fifth grader, a third grader, a kindergartner, and a toddler. She enjoys doing activities with her girls and taking advantage of every teachable moment. She and her family enjoy ministering the gospel to spiritually needy children in their area, getting involved in their community, and reading books of all shapes and sizes. Read more posts by Megan.

When Homeschooling Gets Hard

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don't quit when homeschooling gets hard
Some days, I’m not sure that I can do this homeschooling thing. Some days, I want to quit.

Homeschooling is really, really hard. It might not look hard when you are browsing curriculum catalogs or listening to a veteran homeschool mom on a podcast. But just about any homeschool mom has had the moment—the moment when the task of homeschooling is so overwhelming that she wants to quit entirely. I’ve had that moment. I’ve had many (hundreds?) of those moments. But before you give up homeschooling, consider the following.

Take time to remember why you are homeschooling in the first place.

There are a lot of different reasons why families choose to homeschool their children. Some of you may be homeschooling right now in order to give your children stability in this uncertain time. Some of you may be homeschooling because of health reasons. Or some of you might be homeschooling because of dissatisfaction with the government school systems. Your choice to homeschool was a brave one, and more than likely, it’s still the best choice you could have made.

When I am feeling discouraged about homeschooling, I often think back to why my husband and I decided to start homeschooling four years ago. We had some great schooling options at the time, but my husband and I chose homeschooling because we felt that homeschooling would give us the best opportunity to instill in our children a biblical worldview. We still feel that way. So whenever I feel like giving up, I encourage myself with the fact that the big thing I am doing—instilling in my children a biblical worldview—is really, really worth doing.

Take time to remember the end goal of homeschooling.

I think homeschooling is a lot like exercising. The individual workouts can be brutal. How many of us really want to do those last two minutes on the treadmill? I know I definitely don’t. My whole body screams in protest. But I run those last two minutes because I know that in the end, the hard work will be worth it. My body will grow stronger.

It’s that way with homeschooling too. Individual days can get really discouraging. Like the day not too long ago when one of my children cried her way through her science test. Or the day when we spent way too long struggling through a math page. Days like those can make us feel like failures. They can make us feel completely inadequate for the task of homeschooling. They can make us want to quit. But we endure those rough homeschooling moments because homeschooling is worth it. Our children are getting the best education that we can give them.

Take time to count the homeschooling wins.

Even in the rough days, there are some bright spots. We just tend to focus so much on the bad moments that we overlook the good ones. For example, on the day my child cried through her science test, that same child took the initiative to do an extra, unassigned math page to be “extra prepared” for an upcoming test. That was definitely a big win. And that day when we spent a very long time struggling through math? There was a big win on that day too—my reluctant reader really got into her reading lesson that day and didn’t want to stop.

There may be a lot of homeschool wins in your home that you have been overlooking. Take the time to count them up. Homeschooling is probably going a lot better than you think!

Take time when considering if you need to make adjustments to your homeschool.

This step is last for a reason. Some homeschoolers, when going through a time of discouragement, will try to make dramatic changes in their homeschool. They will buy an entirely new curriculum if they feel like their current choice isn’t working. That “fix” doesn’t usually end up really fixing the problem, and it can cause a lot of instability in your homeschool.

Small adjustments to your homeschool can often make a big difference. For example, I have one child who is very easily distracted by others. So a few weeks ago, I started having her do her school in a separate (but adjacent) room from my other two children. She can focus better, and her schoolwork has improved. Another adjustment we made this year was with our routine. My children prefer to do their favorite subjects first and leave the hard ones for late in the day. This year, my husband and I encouraged them to tackle the hard courses first thing in the day while their minds are the freshest. That simple change in routine has helped them do better in those challenging subjects and has helped us finish our homeschool day earlier. It was definitely a win-win!

A word of encouragement…

If you are homeschooling for the very first time this year, take heart. It does get better! The first year of homeschooling is extra challenging because both you and your children are learning how to make homeschooling work for your family. If you are feeling really discouraged and need some help navigating these first few months, please consider reaching out to your local Homeworks consultant. Chances are, she’s had some of the very same challenges, and she stands ready to help you.

Finally, I want to share one of my favorite verses that helps me when I am feeling discouraged about homeschooling or a myriad of other things.

1 Thessalonians 5:24: Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

The Lord will be faithful to you, and He will help you with this very important and very wonderful task of homeschooling your children.

Tips for Homeschooling Multiple Children

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homeschooling multiple children at the same time
When I started homeschooling four years ago, I wasn’t homeschooling multiple children. I had one student and a toddler in tow. It wasn’t hard to get through our homeschool day. My biggest stresses usually came from the toddler when she was grumpy or getting into things. Since then, I have added two more students (and another toddler), and now things are definitely a little more challenging. Not only am I trying to keep the toddler out of trouble, but I am also trying to teach and/or manage over 20 homeschool courses. Next year I will add another student, and my head is already spinning.

But I feel like I have had it pretty easy. Some of you haven’t had the luxury of starting your homeschool journey with only one student. Some of you are homeschooling for the first time with two or more students. You are doing a very brave thing. Homeschooling multiple children is challenging but very rewarding. Unfortunately, there is no “magic formula” that works for every family. But here are some tips for homeschooling multiple children that have worked for my family and for some of the other homeschool families I have interacted with.

Work on teaching your children how to learn independently.

Let’s start off by acknowledging that it is probably not possible for you as a homeschool mom to teach every single course to every one of your children. There simply isn’t enough time in the day. That’s why it is so important to teach your children how to work and learn independently.  Your children can probably do a lot of things independently now. All of my children do handwriting on their own, and my oldest two teach themselves spelling and Bible. My sixth-grader loves history and has always done very well in heritage studies. So this year, she is teaching herself Heritage Studies 6. I give her an assignment every day, but she completes the reading and any activity manual pages independently. It saves us a lot of time, and she enjoys the challenge.

Teach a course to more than one child if possible.

Some homeschoolers recommend doing subjects like heritage studies and science as a group. That can work well if your children are close in age, but it is difficult to do if there is a large age span between your children. My husband and I tried this approach with two of our children last year. For some reason, we thought that it would be a good idea for my kindergartner to do the same Bible course as my third grader (Bible 3). It wasn’t a good idea. My kindergartner wasn’t ready for the content, so she was frustrated. We ended up abandoning the approach a couple of weeks into the school year.

If you are considering teaching a single course to multiple children, remember that usually it is better to hold back an older child than it is to try to teach something that a younger child is not prepared for.

Enlist the help of older children.

Some skills, particularly those introduced in the early grades, require a lot of practice. Beginning readers may need to review word families or high-frequency words. Second graders may need to practice math facts. Enlist an older child to help younger siblings with these kinds of review tasks. Not only will it save you time, but it is a good review for your older child too!

Rely on video courses.

Our homeschool uses a mix of video courses and parent-led courses. This allows my other children to continue learning while I focus on the needs of one child. We’ve chosen to use video courses for subjects that require a lot of prep work (such as science) and for subjects that I don’t feel comfortable teaching (such as math).

Some days you are going to feel completely overwhelmed with teaching multiple children. Some days you will feel like you accomplished nothing during the day. But on those low days, remember you have accomplished something pretty incredible—you have poured yourself into the education of your children. You won’t regret it.

Homeschooling multiple children has some pretty great rewards. You get to spend more time with your kids, and your kids get to spend more time with each other. In the end, your entire family is going to grow through your homeschool experience.

So don’t give up—you will get through this. And if you need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local HomeWorks consultant. She’d love to help you!

Always, Yet Never Alone: Homeschooling During COVID-19

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when you're dealing with homeschool loneliness
I am always, yet never alone. That’s my life as a homeschool mom in this strange and troubling COVID-19 world. When my governor closed all essential businesses back in the middle of March, my world came to a screeching halt. No more in-person music lessons. No more dropping off my kids at my local gym’s childcare program so I could get my 30 minutes of exercise. We don’t have anymore church fellowships or ministry obligations or homeschool group get-togethers. My husband continued to go to work everyday just as he had before the pandemic, but I suddenly found myself basically confined to my home all day, every day. I was confronted with a deep homeschool loneliness.

But I am not confined alone. I am locked down with my four young daughters. And no longer can I call a babysitter to get out of the house for a few hours. No longer can I meet another mom at a local park for play and fellowship. It’s just me and them 24/7.

So here I am–caught somewhere between extreme loneliness and the need for rational, adult conversation and a strong desire to sit for a few hours in complete silence. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you too are wondering how to cope in such a situation. Here are a few tips.

Spend time in the Scriptures.

Your relationship with the Lord is crucial to your ability to cope. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that “He will keep him in perfect peace as his mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in thee.”  There have been times during this pandemic that I have felt on the edge of a panic attack. It is so easy for me to feel completely overwhelmed by the constant trouble around me, especially when I can’t easily talk to someone about it and I’m struggling with homeschool loneliness.

When I do feel fearful or overwhelmed, Scripture is my best comfort. God’s Word reminds me that I am never truly alone. The Lord is with me! Here are a few Scripture passages that have been especially precious during this time of lockdown. I have each of them posted on the window above my kitchen sink so I can refer to them all day long.

  • Psalm 91
  • Psalm 112: 1, 7
  • Matthew 28:20
  • Psalm 36: 5-8
  • Psalm 100:5

Pray.

You may not be able to unload your burdens to a friend over a cup of coffee, but you can do something far better–you can unload your burdens to the Lord in prayer. Talk to Him about the pressures around you and the turmoil within your own soul. He is the only one who has the power to help you in your time of need.

Take a break from the media.

Sometimes spending time on social media or listening to the news can leave me feeling lonelier than ever. I have found that I can only emotionally handle so much media a day. I can’t listen to the news all day long, or even spend a lot of time on social media sites. Instead, I listen to the news headlines every morning and check my social media accounts 2 or 3 times a day. But that’s it.

Find ways to connect with other adults.

We were created as social creatures—that’s why the isolation that comes from being under a lockdown is so difficult. Yes, I am working on developing deeper relationships with my kids. But I crave adult conversation. That’s the root of homeschool loneliness.

Thankfully, we live in an age that allows us to use technology to connect with people who are physically far away. Use the tools that you have to reach out. Text back and forth with a mom friend during a busy day. Set aside an evening to video chat with some moms in your church or community. Share prayer requests with friends or extended family members over email. Interactions like these have helped remind me that I am not in this alone.

Another great resource available to you is your local HomeWorks Consultant. Even if you have never met your consultant in person, don’t feel shy about calling her. She would love to answer any homeschool questions you might have or to chat with you about the homeschool challenges you are facing.

These are unusual days that we live in. Challenging days. Lonely days. But the following prayer from Valley of Vision reminds us of our hope.

We are weary, give us rest,
ignorant, make us wise unto salvation,
helpless, let they strength be made perfect in our weakness,
poor and needy, bless us with Christ’s unsearchable riches,
perplexed and tempted, let us travel on unchecked, undismayed,
knowing that thou hast said,
‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’
Blessed by thy name![1]

We can take heart in the midst of homeschool loneliness because we are never truly alone—we have the Lord, and He is enough.

[1] Bennett, Arthur, ed. “Fourth Day Evening: God All-Sufficient.” In The Valley of Vision: a Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, 214–14. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975.

 

 

Resources for Homeschool Projects

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resources for homeschool projects
Projects, activities, and labs all play an important role in homeschooling. Sometimes we use them to help us assess whether or not our child truly understands a concept. And sometimes we use them to build a deeper understanding about a concept. But homeschool projects can be challenging, because, in order to do them, we have to have the right materials. That means that we have to plan ahead to make sure that I have everything we need. And sometimes getting those materials can be difficult and expensive. If you are like me and have multiple school-aged children, you may be tempted to skip those projects all together.

Resources for Homeschool Projects

Thankfully, there are resources available to help us manage both the inconvenience and the expense of those projects. Here are a few that I have found especially helpful.

Logos Science Kits

Logos Science kits contain everything—everything—that you will need for BJU Press science projects in grades 7-12. Additionally, they are more cost effective than if you bought all the materials separately. It’s also a great investment if you have a younger child who is going to take the course in the future because you can purchase refill kits that contain only the materials that will be consumed after a single use.

Miller Pad & Paper

This is my go-to company for art supplies, handwriting paper, and blank books (great for writing projects!). I usually stock up at their booth during homeschool conventions, but they ship many of their products too.

Local Educational Supply Stores

Your local teacher or educational supply store is also a great resource for project materials. I have found that mine often has basic science lab equipment (like magnifying glasses, thermometers, and eye droppers) for a good price.

Pinterest

Sometimes it is impossible to go to the store to purchase needed items for a project, so you might have to improvise. This was the case for us early on during the COVID-19 pandemic. My third grader was scheduled to complete the edible cell activity in Science 3 (an activity that she was really looking forward to), but we lacked the Fruit-Roll-Ups® necessary for representing the cell walls. I really didn’t want to take my grocery-cart-licking-toddler to the store, so I went on Pinterest and found a recipe for homemade fruit leather. It worked!

I hope these resources will be helpful to you as you plan your homeschool projects for this coming school year. Happy homeschooling!

Homeschooling vs. Crisis Schooling

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truth about crisis-schooling
On March 16, 2020, both public and private schools in my state were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No longer would the yellow school buses rumble down my street. No longer would I have to dodge school car-lines on my way to an appointment. When my fifth-grade daughter heard the news, her reaction was jubilant: “Now every kid in the state is a homeschooler!” Not exactly. Every child in my state was now being schooled at home. But there are big differences between being schooled at home and being homeschooled. Many are calling the new situation “crisis schooling”—parents simply trying to continue their child’s education during a time of crisis. Most families probably have no long-term plans to continue educating their children this way.

But perhaps you know a family who is—or was—considering homeschooling their children and is now uncertain what homeschooling is all about. Now is the time to share the homeschooling vision with them. Here are some specific things that you may want them to know about the difference between homeschooling and crisis schooling.

Homeschool parents are in charge of their curriculum.

In a crisis schooling situation, the parents are not really in charge of their child’s education. The school is. The school decides what work students complete. It chooses the curriculum. The parents are facilitators.

If the child is enrolled in a public school (or any of the free online public school options), the situation is even worse. The government is in charge. And the curriculum it chooses is not “religiously neutral”—it is often at war with God’s law. This curriculum teaches the children of our nation that God is not Creator, that there is no absolute truth, and that there are no moral absolutes.

One of the great blessings of homeschooling is the fact that I, as the parent, get to be in charge. I get to choose my child’s curriculum. One of the main reasons that my husband and I have continued to use BJU Press Homeschool curriculum is that their curriculum aligns with our values. Every single textbook gives me the tools to shape my child’s worldview according to the Bible.

As a homeschool parent, I also have the freedom to make adjustments to my curriculum to meet the needs of my family and the learning needs of my individual children.  We can go at our own pace. We can add or omit assignments. Homeschool parents are not the slaves of the curriculum we choose. We are the masters of it.

Homeschool parents are in charge of their schedule.

Not only do I get to be in charge of my curriculum, but I also get to be in charge of my schedule. Of course I have to meet the attendance requirements of my state, but no one dictates a start date or an end date for me. I can choose to follow a traditional school-year schedule or homeschool year-round. My children can do their lessons in the morning or wait until later in the day.  I can even take a two-hour break for music lessons in the middle of the afternoon.  The flexibility of homeschooling is wonderful.

Homeschool parents are in charge of their children’s socialization.

One of my crisis-schooling neighbors told me the other day that I was lucky that I was a homeschooler before the COVID-19 crisis. “Not much has changed for you,” he commented.

He was wrong. It’s not normal for me to go weeks on a single tank of gas. I, like most homeschoolers, am not an isolationist. I just like the freedom to choose the company my children keep. My children may not have been surrounded by other children on a school bus or in a classroom all day, but before the current crisis they had plenty of social interaction—with people of differing ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Homeschooling provides wonderful opportunities for relationship-building. We have the time and the freedom to get involved with church ministries and community outreaches. We meet people with shared interests as we pursue our children’s gifts in music, art, sports, and other hobbies. Plus, the homeschooling community itself is a pretty close community. I would be lost without the support of my local homeschool friends.

Homeschooling to me means freedom—the freedom to parent and educate my children according to my values. It is a not a freedom that I take for granted, and I am thankful for those who have worked hard to win me this freedom. I fear that our freedom to homeschool may be challenged in the near future thanks to the confusion between crisis schooling and homeschooling. So be sure to share the vision of homeschooling with others. Help them understand what homeschooling is all about!