Saturday, April 16, 2011

7 Habits of Highly Effective Homeschoolers

1. Have a vision. Why do you do what you do? Proactive visions are easier to stick by than reactionary visions. Start with the end in mind. What kind of person socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually do you want to be interacting with at the end of your homeschooling endeavor?

2. Gather your stuff. Educational supplies like blackboards and whiteboards, pencils, paper, books, CD's, scissors and curriculum. It can be complicated and expensive or simple and free. Be intentional. Serve up feast instead of famine food.

3. Use your stuff. If you don't use the stuff you've gathered it goes from being educational supplies to junk. Plan your work and work your plan.  Having self discipline is essential.  Having a yearly, weekly, daily, seasonal schedule is helpful.

4. Laugh out Loud. Don't take everything so seriously. Work your plan and then give it time to take hold.  Life is serious stuff, keep laughing at the little things, with each other, at yourself.

5. Read voraciously. I mean you, as the teacher. Keep learning and growing. Read to your kids, outloud and for hours.  Require them to read, every day. Have them read words that stir their soul.

6. Converse about everything. Your vision, hopes, dreams, what you are reading, your faith, sex, politics, money, the state of the union, your love story, God's love story.

7. Share your faith.   How does your faith affect you, change you, grow you, challenge you, comfort you, invigorate you.  How do you live it? Live it. Include your kids.

6 comments:

Mary said...

This is a great list :)

Unknown said...

I'm probably one of your only non-homeschool followers... but I love your list. It applies to those of us who have children in school but know that we as parents are still the ones completely responsible for their education.
Any words for those of us who used to homeschool but can't anymore are always welcome Lisa!

laughinglioness.lisa@gmail.com said...

The list is really about parenting. I just threw homeschoolers in there cause of 2 and 3.
I am so over thinking homeschooling is the only way to go. We've seen some epic fails in the homeshcool community and some awesome wins among our friends who public or private school. Parents that take parenting seriously ROCK imho, no matter how they school.

and I think my mil still reads my blog and she's not homeschooling either!; )
LOVE to YOU!

Sarah at SmallWorld said...

Fantastic list! Thanks for submitting to the Carnival of Homeschooling.

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

Great list! I SO want to be numbered among the parenting success stories!

Joelle said...

Love your list, will be sharing it.