My whole world changed when Dad accepted a new job on the other side of the country. It was the middle of the academic year, and I had just turned seven. This move meant a new Christian school, a new teacher, new classmates, and even a new curriculum. It was all pretty traumatic.
I’m sure my parents had some concerns of their own: Would Meredith’s academic training measure up to the standards of this new Christian school? What support would her new teacher be able to provide? How would she fit in with her new classmates?
My experience with the new Christian school wasn’t bad, but by the end of the school year, Mom and Dad had decided it was best for my academic training to take place at home. Homeschooling quickly became a new challenge that Mom and I faced together on a daily basis.
As I think back on it, Mom probably had a hard time directing my focus to more scholarly pursuits when I declared that art and recess were my favorite subjects. (However, my love for reading may have helped to alleviate this difficulty.)
We each had one more concern. I wanted to know who I would find to play with since I had few friends in our new city and no siblings at home; Mom wondered if she was qualified to teach since her degree wasn’t in education.
In the years that followed, we both found the answer to our concerns. I spent my “recess times” pedaling over every square inch of a nearby park with neighborhood friends. Mom found support and encouragement through other homeschool moms, conferences, her sisters (both education majors), and BJU Press HomeSat.
BJU Press HomeSat (now called BJU Press Distance Learning) served as the backbone of my education and benefited my family in three specific ways.
A Tailored Learning Program
Every day, I watched BJU Press video lessons for certain subjects, and my mom taught me the remaining subjects. This approach allowed Mom to choose the best educational materials to complement my learning style subject-by-subject.
A Daily “Break”
It also gave both of us a “break.” I enjoyed learning from different teachers who addressed me as their audience (a single student). The visual elements (including specially filmed segments) and hands-on activities that each teacher completed with me made the lessons understandable and enjoyable. As I watched the lessons, Mom focused on other responsibilities. This “free time” allowed her to be more effective in her roles as a wife, mother, friend, and teacher. Dad also enjoyed these benefits especially when the result was eating one of his favorite meals for dinner!
A Sound Christian Education
Another benefit that I’m only now able to recognize is the fact that Dad and Mom chose to use BJU Press Distance Learning as a tool to make sure no gaps would exist in my education. They saw the importance of filtering academic subjects through a biblical worldview but at the same time were unwilling to compromise my future academic success. Their foresight in choosing BJU Press Distance Learning as well as their guidance enabled me to excel in my studies and to reach my goals.
Today I’m proud to say that BJU Press still offers Distance Learning to homeschooling families. In fact, the Distance Learning content (grouped by individual subjects or grade kits) is now offered online, on DVD, or on hard drive. You can learn more about BJU Press Distance Learning on our homeschool website.
What’s your BJU Press Distance Learning story?
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