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Tips for Keeping Kids on Task

March 10, 2020 by Arianna

Keeping your children on task in their schooling can be a challenging job, but there are ways to encourage productivity that will help both you and your children. A couple weeks ago, we asked moms on our Facebook page to share their tips for encouraging their kids to stay on task during the school day. We thought we’d share some of their suggestions with you here!

Keep Them Accountable to Each Task

Some children may struggle to focus if you are not beside them. One mom commented on our Facebook post that her daughter works better when she is not alone in her room. She says, “Mine usually does her work . . . with me while I am working and she zips right through it. In her own room she gets distracted and it’s harder.” Another way to help them be responsible for their own time management is to schedule checkpoints throughout the day when you will review their progress. You can set specific goals for them to work on in between check-ins so they know what to expect. If they’re not making those goals, you can also see if they’re struggling. You’ll know when they need help and encouragement to continue.

Remove Distractions

We all know that distractions eat away at a productive school day. Electronics, toys, siblings, pets—all of these can become distractions. How do you eliminate screen-related distractions if you use screens for schoolwork? One way to remove distractions for children who do school on electronic devices is to block pop-up notifications on the screen they are working on. You can also add accountability by making sure the screen they’re working on faces the center of the room. Other distractions such as as toys, games, siblings, or pets can be just as disruptive as electronics. Instead of removing these distractions entirely, offer them during breaks as rewards for hard work. Some moms encourage these other interests by incorporating their children’s favorite games or topics into their lessons.

Offer Regular Breaks

We’ve all had that day when things never seem to stop or slow down. At the end of the day, we may actually scream if anyone asks us to do one more thing. Children will feel the same way when endlessly confined to school work. Downtime is an important part of everyone’s day. One mom shared how she breaks up her kids’ days, “For every 3 items on their list (they have a daily checklist showing all the school they need to do that day) they get a break to play. They seem to focus and stay on task so much better knowing exactly how much they have to do before each break.”

Try setting goals and tasks to work on in short intervals and then give a short break before working again. One productivity method recommends 25 minutes working hard without distractions and then a 5 minute break. During breaks, encourage your kids to stretch, eat a snack, go to the bathroom, or anything else that makes them get out of their seat. I use this method frequently to stay on task and get more done in a shorter amount of time.

Offer Encouragement for Completing a Task

In addition to suggesting frequent breaks, one mom recommends “words of affirmation and snacks they enjoy during the hard parts of the day like Math and Science.” Encouragement can be a powerful tool for keeping your children on task! My piano teacher would give prizes after her students gained points from practicing, passing songs, and playing in front of people. I looked forward to reaching those prizes and would work harder to get there. Remind your children that you recognize and appreciate their hard work. Along with verbal affirmation, rewards like snacks will encourage them and help them focus! Another mom told us she gives her daughter something to look forward to at the end of the day. She says that, during the winter months, getting “to play outside—sledding, skating, skiing, building snow forts, etc.—when the work is done” is “good motivation.” Setting specific goals for your children to meet and then giving them incentives for reaching them can be very effective.

Children may struggle to stay on task no matter how hard we try. But don’t be discouraged! You know your children and their needs. Embrace the journey and remember that homeschool education is about your children and not a to-do list.

Communication: The Key to Parenting

March 3, 2020 by Guest Writer

As homeschooling parents, we understand the importance of clear communication. If our children don’t get what we’re trying to teach them in school and life, they’ll struggle academically, socially, and spiritually. We also understand that we have more opportunities than others to develop good communication with our children. We have them home with us all day. Each day we have hundreds of opportunities to create healthy communication habits for ourselves and for them. We all have room for improvement in our communication habits, so let’s look at some tips to help us become better communicators.

Just Saying

First, know what you want to say. You’ve heard the old adage, “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” That’s a good rule to follow! Be as clear as you can when telling your children what you expect them to do. For example, there’s a big difference between saying “finish your math” and saying “do problems 1 through 10 on page 30.”

If we don’t tell our children exactly what we expect from them, they’re likely to get confused and frustrated. Also, we can’t always assume that our children understood or even heard all of our instructions. Distractions—other children, pets, a large house, or guests—can override what you’re trying to communicate. A good way to make sure they understand is to ask them to repeat what you just told them.

Location, Location

Be mindful of where you are and what’s going on around you. Background noises in the room you’re in, or another room, can make it much harder for your children to hear and understand what you say, or vice versa. As often as possible, try to be in the same room as your children when you’re talking. Of course, that goes without saying when you’re teaching, but it’s a good practice to have all the time. It can be fun to holler down the hallway to talk, but not at the expense of clear communication.

Focus, Please

We’re surrounded by things that suck up our attention and block out the rest of the world. Buzzing phones and blaring TVs, crying children, dishwashers, washing machines—there are so many noises surrounding us at all times. Those noises can be the death of clear communication. If you want to have a meaningful conversation with your children, make sure you have their full attention. If they’re distracted while you’re talking to them, chances are, they won’t remember what you say.

On the flip side, make sure your children have your full attention when they want to talk to you. Texting, talking on the phone, scrolling through Facebook or checking email can wait when your children are trying to talk with you. They need to know you care enough to stop, look them in the eye, and listen. If you have to finish a text or an email before you can give your full attention, use a signal to let them know that you know they want to speak and that you’ll stop and listen to them as soon as you can.

Watch Your Tone

How we say something is just as important as what we say. It can be hard to teach children how to control their tones, especially if we struggle to do the same ourselves. Our tone of voice can communicate something entirely different from our words, and it certainly affects the way our children respond to us and how we respond to them. Children are excellent at picking up on attitudes and thoughts we have hidden in our tone. As impatient or frustrated as you might be with a situation or a certain kind of behavior, remember that letting that frustration into your tone will change the meaning of everything you say. A reminder to finish homework can come across as a punishment or an expression of disappointment—even if you didn’t mean either.

Remember the exhortation in Colossians 3:21. According to the Amplified Bible’s translation, it says, “Do not provoke or irritate or exasperate your children . . . so they will not lose heart and become discouraged or unmotivated [with their spirits broken.]” One unkind remark can undo hours of loving instruction. One snappy retort can erect a wall of resentment between you and your child. We must rely on the power of God to help us. Only He can master our tongues (and voices) so the law of kindness can reign in them. And when we do speak in a harsh tone of voice, we need to make it right as soon as possible. Immediately confess it to the Lord and ask your child to forgive you. Yes, it’s humbling (as I can well testify!), but if we are to maintain a right relationship with our children, it’s imperative. The best way to show our children how to control their tongue is to become masters of our own.

Communication in Body Language

If you have a teenager, you’re more than aware of how frustrating it is when your children roll their eyes or sigh at everything you say. It’s like they’re shouting “I don’t care what you say” or “you can’t tell me what to do.” In addition to our tones, what we’re saying, and our environment, we also need to be mindful of what we’re communicating through facial expressions, posture, and gestures. And we need to help our children understand what their bodies communicate, too.

How we use our bodies while we’re talking can influence our conversations in either a positive or negative way. For example, try not to cross your arms, roll your eyes, sigh, shake your head, or tap your foot during a discussion; all of these gestures can undermine healthy communication. By using positive gestures, like nodding or leaning forward, we can encourage a healthy conversation despite what either party might be feeling.

The Main Goal for Communication

Remember the purpose of communication: to glorify God by building others up with our words. God has given us the gift of language so we can encourage, motivate, and inspire others toward greater Christlikeness. He has also given us His own Word, Holy Spirit, and power to guide our communication. A wonderful scripture to pray each day is Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

• • • • •

Jennifer is a pastor’s wife and mom of two young girls and loves homeschooling them. During her own twelve years of being homeschooled, Jennifer developed a passion for reading and writing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and relishes writing during her free time.

Treating Cabin Fever with Scriptural Truths

February 25, 2020 by Megan

Cabin fever. We’ve all had it—that awful sensation that the walls of our home are about to close in on us or maybe even collapse altogether because of the noise level of our children. Our family experienced it last winter when we received heavy rainfall for nine days in a row. You may even be experiencing it now because of the weather, prolonged sickness, or other challenges.

Unfortunately, cabin fever often brings out the worst in us and our kids. We become impatient. We complain, act with selfishness, and stir up strife. It gets pretty ugly.

How can we cope with cabin fever?

There’s a lot of practical things we as moms can do. We can hop on Pinterest and collect ideas for all kinds of indoor crafts and games, or we can search online for local indoor events. We can fill the time with read-alouds, technology, and enrichment activities. We’re homeschoolers—we’re good at that kind of thing.

But simply filling the time doesn’t fix our problem. Because at its core, our problem is not due to our circumstances. The problem is not the nine consecutive days of heavy rainfall. The problem is the discontentment festering in our hearts and in the hearts of our children. And only meditation on the truths of God’s Word will truly help us. Here are a couple of scriptural truths to remember.

1. God is in charge of the weather.

Psalm 135:6 states, “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” Dr. Layton Talbert, in his book Not by Chance: Learning to Trust a Sovereign God, writes:

In all these various spheres, the elements of earth are the tools of providence. He controls the clouds, the lightning, and the wind for His ends (Psalm 135:7)—fire and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds all fulfill His word (Psalm 148:8) and respond to His commands (Psalm 147:15-18). Do you suppose that has any practical relevance for our attitude toward the weather? (p. 11)

2. God sends periods of affliction for our benefit.

A couple of months ago, my family was housebound for almost two weeks because of a relentless stomach virus. It was miserable. But it was also a time of unexpected blessing because during those long days, I was very aware of God’s grace to me personally.

Psalm 119:71 states, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”

God often sends periods of prolonged sickness or other difficulties into our lives in order to teach us more about Himself. Rehearse those lessons to yourself and to your children. They will surely brighten your outlook!

New Homeschool Video Courses

February 18, 2020 by Jenna

New video courses are available for homeschool families! Each course includes age-appropriate segments, opportunities for hands-on learning, and video demonstrations. We’re excited to use some colorful new textbooks and materials with several of these courses. If you’d like to get a sneak peek at these courses, we’ll be introducing them all on our Facebook page, and you can look for the sample videos on our website!

Upcoming Video Courses for 2020

Focus on Fives with Mrs. Rulapaugh

This past year, Megan—one of our blog writers—had an opportunity to use the new Focus on Fives materials with her daughter for K5. Because of her experience with the textbooks, she’s had a wonderful time with her daughter. On the other hand, the video course gives you an opportunity for the same experiences with the added benefit of having a teacher. This new video course takes advantage of the materials for an exciting introduction to early learning. Mrs. Rulapaugh, who also teaches K5 Math, prepares her students for first grade with lessons in phonics and reading as well as heritage studies and science. This course is absolutely packed with exciting video segments that keep kids engaged and learning. It has animated stories and songs, biblical themes, phonics stories, science explorations, activities with Hopscotch, and more.

A day’s worth of lessons averages 60 minutes, but children will have many opportunities for breaks, games, and activities that keep them having fun. Mrs. Rulapaugh is excited to help her students love learning!

Reading 3 with Mrs. Walker

Kids who enjoyed Reading 2 with Mrs. Walker will be excited to join her again for Reading 3! This course uses Adventures in Reading 3 (3^rd edition) with a travel theme. Mrs. Walker wants to inspire wonder and discovery in her students as she embarks on thoughtful discussions about each reading. As they journey through the material, children will have an opportunity to practice critical thinking and phonics skills. In this reading adventure, each lesson will include colorful segments of animated poems, story times, and more. As always, Mrs. Walker ends her lessons with a giggle to bring fun and joy to learning!

Pre-Algebra with Mr. Harmon

In this new Pre-Algebra video course, Mr. Harmon seeks to help students understand math by using simple explanations with real-life examples. Students will expand on the concepts they learned with him in Fundamentals of Math so that they can be prepared for Algebra 1. Math-Splaining segments use an illustrative approach to explain difficult math concepts for students.

United States History with Mrs. Bullock

A history class should be far more than a dry recitation of dates and facts. Mrs. Bullock encourages her students to get into the minds of historic figures so they can consider the thoughts and attitudes that led to events in American history. In addition to knowing the facts, she also wants her students to ask why things happened the way they did. This course uses the new United States History (5^th edition) materials and covers history from the discovery of the American continents through to the present day. Mrs. Bullock includes segments that offer glimpses into the lives of American families, present unique historical perspectives, bring primary source documents to life, and provide dramatic readings of speeches.

Spanish 3 with Mrs. Kuhlewind

This course builds on the principles Mrs. Kuhlewind introduced in Spanish 2 and continues to help students develop skills in speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Her goal is for her students to become comfortable with a new language so that they can have confidence in using their new language skills. To that end, Mrs. Kuhlewind’s segments offer opportunities for Spanish listening and vocabulary building. The segments also provide introductions to Spanish cultures, architecture, cooking, and dialects.

Please note that this course will only be available as an online video course. A DVD option will not be available at this time.

Precalculus with Mr. Matesevac

The key to success in advanced mathematics is perseverance. Mr. Matesevac encourages his students to press on to master the challenging concepts of Precalculus so that they will develop wisdom and maturity. For students who apply themselves, this course provides a solid foundation for college-level math. Students will use the new Precalculus (2^nd edition) materials which balance study of the foundations of calculus with practical, real-world applications. Mr. Matesevac works out difficult problems through Math Applied video segments to give students a different perspective on each problem.

Please note that this course will only be available as an online video course. A DVD option will not be available at this time.

Our team has been working hard to develop these video courses and fill each lesson with useful segments. We can’t wait to share them with you and your children! Which course are you most excited for?

When Life Happens, But School Doesn’t

February 11, 2020 by Guest Writer

You had big plans this morning; lesson plans prepared, schoolbooks and supplies laid out, desks cleaned and organized. Projects and tests were going to be completed, units were going to be finished—you were even going to get ahead! But sometimes, life happens and school doesn’t.

Derailed Plans

Instead of helping to solve math equations, you had to resolve conflicts between siblings. Your toddler decided to conduct his own “science experiment” in the bathroom, which caused an extra hour of work for you to clean up. So you had to replace history lessons with lessons on obedience and respect. And potty training replaced spelling. On top of all this, you had the normal household responsibilities of laundry, cleaning, and meal prep. In between, there were nap times, diaper changes, and feedings. Just when it looked like you’d be able to squeeze in some school time, you had to hustle the kids off to music lessons and sports practices. When you got home, it was time to fix dinner. It was all you could do to make it to the kids’ bedtime so you could crash on the sofa and reclaim a little bit of your sanity.

Low Ebb

Weary, discouraged, and frustrated may best describe you at this moment. You may be tempted to think that you failed because you didn’t get any schoolwork accomplished. It’s easy to think that today was a total waste because all you had time for was that other stuff. You may be surveying a room strewn with toys that didn’t get put away before bed. You might be inwardly groaning at the thin layer of dust on the furniture you didn’t get to clean. But before you unload your frustrations on your husband or on Facebook, take a moment to hear from the experiences of a fellow homeschool mom who’s been right where you are.

Hope for Tomorrow

Let me reassure you by saying that these days are not a waste. When my daughters were little, I sometimes felt like all I did was correct, discipline, chase after them, and clean up after them. I’ve also cried out, disheartened, with, “I got nothing done today!” But I also learned something: education is important, but it cannot replace godly parenting. Sometimes you have to delay school so you can be the wife and mom you’re meant to be. Our first priority must be to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Prov. 22:6). When you choose to put God and your family first, you are teaching your children an invaluable lesson. They will see that you value them—and God—more than lesson plans, good grades, or a clean house. Commit each day to God. Try to make school happen. But even if only life happens, remember that it can happen for God’s glory if we live the day for Him.