Discipleship takes a lot of time. Often it takes weeks, months and even years of one-on-one time to help someone grow in their relationship with Christ. Even when we invest that sort of time in a person, we often find that we don’t really know them as we thought. People can surprise us with the sins that are hidden in their heart.

Their Heart

One of the benefits of homeschooling is the amount of time we get to spend with our kids to be apart of discipling them. Working one on one with our kids every day gives us a new window into their heart. We get to see them in a different light when we work with them every day through the subjects they enjoy and take delight in.

We also get to see them work through the subjects they would do just about anything to avoid. A child that does not want to do their math homework has a problem. We can recognize it for what it is, a heart of rebellion. While this is not really the most fun for us to deal with day in and day out, it can be a great benefit to us as parents. Of course, it doesn’t seem like a advantage when you have just spent an hour with your child getting them to do a worksheet that they decided against doing. The benefit of seeing into the hearts of our kids is something we need to be reminded about.  Here is something Paul Tripp has to say about this:

But the reality is that if your eyes ever see, or your ears ever hear the sin, weakness, rebellion or failure of your children, it’s never an imposition. It’s never an interruption. It’s never a hassle. It’s always grace. God loves your children; he’s put them in a family of faith, and in relentless grace he will reveal their need to you again and again so that you can be his tool of awareness, conviction, repentance, faith and change. And because in these moments he asks you to forsake your agenda for his, this opportunity of grace isn’t just for your children, it’s for you as well. (Tripp, Parenting Its Never an Interruption)

In the article referenced, Paul Tripp makes the point that every time we see the sin of our children, it is God’s grace that we have an opportunity for him to use us in their lives. What better way to get this opportunity every day then by spending it in one on one time with our kids as we educate them at home.

Our Heart

Paul also brought up that these moments of God’s grace are also for us. We all wish we could stick to our schedule for the day, that we could get all the schoolwork done without complaints, and that our children would go through their school day with smiles on their faces and an eager desire to learn. Unfortunately, it seems those days are infrequent, if ever. The most difficult days are also the days that God works on our hearts as well. God often uses our kids to reveal the heart issues that he wants to address in us.

Homeschooling is not easy and homeschooling well is even less so. Homeschooling while we attempt to be used by God to work on the heart of our child is not an easy task. One thing we can be certain of is that not only is God with us every day, but also that He loves both us and our kids as we do this together.  

So, let’s remember that homeschooling is not just an alternative way of educating our kids, it is also about their, and our, discipleship. It’s not something we have to do alone but with the community of believers behind us.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about homeschooling or joining us for our weekly get together, email us at homeschool@jfbelievers.com

Recess

Even though it’s summer, the homeschool group has had some happenings over the past couple of months with our weekly recess. We have continued our weekly recess every Thursday at 3:30 in area parks.

Recess is a time for parents and children of homeschool families to gather for about 45 minutes at an area park.  The purpose of recess is really two-fold. It is for the kids to be able to get together, play, socialize, and get some exercise. It is a blessing for the kids to be able to build their friendships with other kids in our group.  In addition to the benefits for the kids, it is also a time for the parents to engage with each other.  Parents need it just as much as the kids do and so recess is also a time for the parents to get together for the encouragement and fellowship that we need.

Picture Day

With summer quickly coming to an end, and fall upon us, the homeschool group will be busy with upcoming events during the traditional school year. One such event is a Homeschool Picture Day. It is a time for our families to have their kid’s pictures taken as well as an invitation to other homeschool families in the area. Last year, the photo day brought many families from the community down to have their photos taken.  

With the photo day, we are also going to use it as an opportunity to display homeschool curriculum to anyone that is interested in taking a look at what some of our group’s families use. Choosing the right curriculum for your kids can be a daunting task and so we will also have options on display for any families that attend the photo day to view.  We would like to provide this service to any families that are considering homeschooling or just looking to change their current curriculum. 

Fall Field Trips

Once we move into fall there will more field trips and educational activities to come. The purpose of the fields trips is, like recess, a chance for families to fellowship and engage with each other but is more than that. It is also an opportunity to get us out into our community more and sometimes out of Menomonie to engage with the larger world and find some educational lessons that you can not get at home.

If you know anyone who would be interested in learning more about homeschooling and curriculum, having their homeschooled child’s picture taken, or attending recess, please reach out to our group or email homeschool@jfbelievers.com.

Summer is now upon us and for many families (homeschooling or not), school and education takes a backseat to outdoor time, trips, and overall unscheduled play time.  Because of our more relaxed schedule, it’s a good time to look at the upcoming school year.  Consider how the past school year went for all family members and take time to think about what God would have you change for next year.  Prayerfully evaluate what kind of changes need to be made: Homeschool or Public School, Scheduling Issues, Curriculum Changes, Etc. 

The attached PDF Seven_Steps_to_Successful_Homeschooling is an easy read through to either help you consider to homeschool or, if you are already homeschooling, to help identify changes that need to be made.  If you would like more information on homeschooling or are interested in hanging out with our homeschool group, please email homeschool@jfbelievers.com or find us on Facebook: JFB Homeschool Group.

January

The Homeschool Group of JFB has had a busy couple of months with lessons, trips and recess!  In January, we were able to learn all about the Philippines from Laura Hartung while she was here visiting.  Since it was right after Christmas, we focused on how Christmas is celebrated in the Philippines.  We made Parols (or at least a simplified version of it), which is a traditional Christmas decoration in the shape of a star.

February

Next up in February, we were able to visit the Menomonie Police Department.  It was interesting to see the inside of the station and offices, including the 911 dispatch center.  The kids were able to try on the bullet proof vests and some of them even volunteered to be handcuffed!  The highlight of the tour was definitely the police squad car, as all the kids took turns turning on the lights and sitting in the driver’s seat and the hard, plastic backseat.  We enjoyed learning about how this important part of our community works.

March

As the weather finally started to warm up and the sap started to flow, we were able to visit a local maple syrup operation in March.  We learned about all parts of the process including: tapping the tree, gathering the sap into a tank named “Sappy” and boiling it down into syrup.  The end of the trip included sampling the maple syrup over ice cream and in cookies!

April

A few days ago, we filled up the van (complete with seven child car seats) and drove to Minneapolis to play at a child maker-space called Snapology.  The facility is filled with Legos, blocks and other child “building materials”. After spending some time playing, the kids built helicopters and then were able to create the code on an iPad to control them.

May

Coming up, we have a field trip to the Rassbach Museum planned that will focus on local history, including learning about one room schoolhouses.   Some outdoor time is also in the works for the upcoming summer months.

Weekly Recess

In addition to our field trips once a month, we also meet every Thursday afternoon for recess at local parks in Menomonie.  Throughout the winter, we brought our sleds and hit the hills at Elmwood Park.  Most of the time, besides a little snow in the face, we ended up having great fun together.   When the weather didn’t allow us to be outside due to subzero temps, we met at church to dance along to worship videos together!  Now that it’s warming up, we’ve been hiking on paved trails, because the playgrounds are too muddy for us right now.  It’s a nice chance to talk with each other and get some exercise in at the same time.

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Parenting Discussions

Besides recess and trips, one additional activity we get to be a part of is quarterly parenting discussions.  Every few months, parents of younger children are invited to eat breakfast together in the Blind Munchies Coffeehouse and then watch a video related to parenting and discuss it.  It is an opportunity to come together as parents and discuss issues in raising children. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining our homeschool group for recess and trips or for the parenting discussions, please contact homeschool@jfbelievers.com.

When God Calls You to Something Unconventional

Recently, I came across an article written by a doctor turned homeschool mom. I appreciate Dr. Lainna Callentine’s willingness to move from comfort, prestige, and financial security into the life God was calling her, despite the cost. This article on the outside might seem like its just for homeschooling families. But in reality, its about doing what God is calling you to do (homeschooling or any other thing).

Read her compelling article here.

For more information about our group, email us: homeschool@jfbelievers.com

Exploring the Art of Socialization

“Aren’t you worried about socialization?”  This is probably the most common question most homeschooling families get asked.  What people really want to know is: “How will your child grow up to be a well-behaved, socially-adept, contributing member of society if they don’t know how to interact with others?”.  They assume that because they aren’t interacting with twenty to sixty of their same-age peers on a daily basis, they won’t learn the art of social interaction. They will forever be labeled “socially awkward”.  

Children Imitate Their Parents

First off, let’s ask the question. How much of social-adeptness or ineptness in a growing child, teenager or young adult mirrors their parents?  I mean, let’s face it, we all know public school children or adults who attended public school that tend to fall on the socially awkward side of the spectrum.  Children imitate their parents and so socially-awkward homeschooled kids often also have socially-awkward parents. This could be true of any other character trait that is passed on from parents to children.

Comparing the Hours

Second, the average homeschooler puts in about 25 hours a week in their studies.  This leaves ample time for other activities and events in the community. On any given week, the homeschoolers of JFB spend around 10-15 hours involved in activities outside their house. This includes church services, fellowship times, and our group’s recess and other events.  I’d like to note here that these 10-15 hours are mostly in situations that are parentally controlled. They usually involve same-age peers AND toddlers, teenagers, college students and everyone else on up.

Let’s compare this to the 35 hours a week a public-schooler spends at school.  That’s 1,232 hours a year in situations that aren’t at all controlled (bus, recess, lunch) or controlled by a teacher(s) with a worldview that’s most likely opposite of the parent.  As a result, this would also include spending a significant amount of time with other children whose behavior would be considered quite lacking, social skills included.    

The Most Important Thing

Certainly, there are many homeschoolers who spend most of their time at home that end up lacking in social skills.  A question you should ask is if it is the homeschooling that is causing the social issues? Or could there be other factors that are contributing to the social behavior of the child? Above all, are social skills really the most important aspect of a child’s life anyway.  Isn’t the state of their heart towards God the most important thing?

A big part of our kids’ social development is through our church.  Many of you have taken the time interact with the kids. You sometimes correct them (when needed), teach them and pray for them. A child can learn a lot through multi-generational friends. Thank you for being a big part of the kids’ lives and our lives!

Making the decision to homeschool is not something to take lightly. If you have interest in discussing this or anything from this article please contact us at homeschool@jfbelievers.com. You could also just come talk to me.

-Tiffany