Post by Charity on Feb 27, 2004 11:26:06 GMT -5
How to Choose a homeschool suppoort group
Many new homeschoolers get overwhelmed with the possibilities of getting started, choosing curriculum and of course a homeschool support group. I would like to talk about choosing a support group on this thread. Here are a few guidelines that might be very useful. You will be meeting many new people in the homeschool world. People of many different faiths and some of no faith at all. Your choice can be very important to you and your family as well as your success.
Most groups are either Christian or some other faith, or they are non-sectarian. For those who have no preferance, the latter may be the best choice. It really depends a lot on your reason for making the choice to homeschool in the first place. For many, the choice is very definitly for Christian purposes. So if you choose a Christian homeschool group, you will know that Christianity will be a big factor in the fellowship you will be sharing. This added to sharing many various educational activities. MOst dedicated Christian homeschoolers are very committed to the Lord and it is integrated into all things.
This group is definitly a Christian group. The members here are totally committed to the Lord in every way. No we are not perfect in any stretch of the imagination, but Jesus Christ comes first in all things.
Sectarian groups on the other hand avoid discussing spiritual beliefs. They focus only on shared activities. This works better for a homeschool family that might not want to discuss or have faith as any issue.
There are many types of homeschool groups, so when you make this important choice, consider these things.
Someone asked me not too long ago what I meant by a "Christian group". I have to say that question had never been asked of me because most families already know what they are seeking.
For anyone new to this board, I thought I might take a moment to address this. Many people see this board every day. People none of us even know. This is the internet. So if you are here seeking ideas for your family, I hope this will help in some small way.
It is very important to do your homework before you set out on the quest to find the group that fits your lifestyle, beliefs and interests. There are hundreds of homeschool groups in Georgia alone. We are just one small group.
It is good sometimes to be in more than one group for variety. I am in 3 myself. Just network, check out the state homeschool associations for help. If you are Jewish, muslim, even atheist, there is bound to be a group out there to suit your needs.
Blessings in your homeschool adventure. I hope this was helpful.
Benefits of being an exclusively Christian Group
1. WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE THE SAME GOD.
2. MOST OF US USE THE SAME CURRICULUM, AVOIDING SECULAR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS FOR THE MOST PART. ESPECIALLY WHERE THINGS LIKE EVOLUTION AND REVISIONIST HISTORY ARE INVOLVED.
3. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT EACH OTHER MEANS/TERMINOLOGY.
4. WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES INFILTRATING OUR CHILDREN.
5. WE JUST THINK ALIKE ON MOST THINGS.
6. CHRISTIANS KNOW HOW TO HANDLE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE GROUP AND HOME. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS DO IT THE WAY GOD WOULD WANT IT, BUT WE AT LEAST KNOW WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO.
7. WE UNDERSTAND WHY WE STARTED HOMESCHOOLING IN THE FIRST PLACE AND SEEK NOT TO BE A CARBON COPY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR REASONS OF THE OBVIOUS.
8. WE ALL WANT GOD TO BE FIRST IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES.
9. WE CAN SINCERLY PRAY TOGETHER.
10. WE ARE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL.
One of the biggest mistakes
IMHO one of the biggest mistakes new homeschoolers make is trying to duplicate the teaching style of public schools. This can quickly ruin a homeschool's potential. I always say forget everything you think you know and have learned from public schools. If it did not work for them, it certainly won't work for you. The reason homeschooling is so successful is because most homeschoolers realize this.
Read books and learn all you can about other seasoned homeschooled families, how they did it, what worked and did not work, etc. There is a lot of information out there.
I know new homeschool moms who have said that when they began to homeschool, the best thing they did was forget what they learned as a public school teacher and start from scratch.
Individualized teaching is very different than public school teaching.
Many new homeschoolers get overwhelmed with the possibilities of getting started, choosing curriculum and of course a homeschool support group. I would like to talk about choosing a support group on this thread. Here are a few guidelines that might be very useful. You will be meeting many new people in the homeschool world. People of many different faiths and some of no faith at all. Your choice can be very important to you and your family as well as your success.
Most groups are either Christian or some other faith, or they are non-sectarian. For those who have no preferance, the latter may be the best choice. It really depends a lot on your reason for making the choice to homeschool in the first place. For many, the choice is very definitly for Christian purposes. So if you choose a Christian homeschool group, you will know that Christianity will be a big factor in the fellowship you will be sharing. This added to sharing many various educational activities. MOst dedicated Christian homeschoolers are very committed to the Lord and it is integrated into all things.
This group is definitly a Christian group. The members here are totally committed to the Lord in every way. No we are not perfect in any stretch of the imagination, but Jesus Christ comes first in all things.
Sectarian groups on the other hand avoid discussing spiritual beliefs. They focus only on shared activities. This works better for a homeschool family that might not want to discuss or have faith as any issue.
There are many types of homeschool groups, so when you make this important choice, consider these things.
Someone asked me not too long ago what I meant by a "Christian group". I have to say that question had never been asked of me because most families already know what they are seeking.
For anyone new to this board, I thought I might take a moment to address this. Many people see this board every day. People none of us even know. This is the internet. So if you are here seeking ideas for your family, I hope this will help in some small way.
It is very important to do your homework before you set out on the quest to find the group that fits your lifestyle, beliefs and interests. There are hundreds of homeschool groups in Georgia alone. We are just one small group.
It is good sometimes to be in more than one group for variety. I am in 3 myself. Just network, check out the state homeschool associations for help. If you are Jewish, muslim, even atheist, there is bound to be a group out there to suit your needs.
Blessings in your homeschool adventure. I hope this was helpful.
Benefits of being an exclusively Christian Group
1. WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE THE SAME GOD.
2. MOST OF US USE THE SAME CURRICULUM, AVOIDING SECULAR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS FOR THE MOST PART. ESPECIALLY WHERE THINGS LIKE EVOLUTION AND REVISIONIST HISTORY ARE INVOLVED.
3. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT EACH OTHER MEANS/TERMINOLOGY.
4. WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES INFILTRATING OUR CHILDREN.
5. WE JUST THINK ALIKE ON MOST THINGS.
6. CHRISTIANS KNOW HOW TO HANDLE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE GROUP AND HOME. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS DO IT THE WAY GOD WOULD WANT IT, BUT WE AT LEAST KNOW WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO.
7. WE UNDERSTAND WHY WE STARTED HOMESCHOOLING IN THE FIRST PLACE AND SEEK NOT TO BE A CARBON COPY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR REASONS OF THE OBVIOUS.
8. WE ALL WANT GOD TO BE FIRST IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES.
9. WE CAN SINCERLY PRAY TOGETHER.
10. WE ARE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL.
One of the biggest mistakes
IMHO one of the biggest mistakes new homeschoolers make is trying to duplicate the teaching style of public schools. This can quickly ruin a homeschool's potential. I always say forget everything you think you know and have learned from public schools. If it did not work for them, it certainly won't work for you. The reason homeschooling is so successful is because most homeschoolers realize this.
Read books and learn all you can about other seasoned homeschooled families, how they did it, what worked and did not work, etc. There is a lot of information out there.
I know new homeschool moms who have said that when they began to homeschool, the best thing they did was forget what they learned as a public school teacher and start from scratch.
Individualized teaching is very different than public school teaching.