Homeschooling to gain the heart for Christ

[reaching4heaven]

I debated on whether to put a homeschool thread under "How to Win Our Children to Christ" or "Town Hall." It is a great responsibility to win them to Christ; it takes much time, effort, and personal responsibility and I believe homeschooling can give us an added leverage in this endeavor so this category was chosen. I believe to subject a child to peer pressure in school lessens parental authority. (I write as someone who was schooled in public schools

[reaching4heaven]

I heard about Raymond & Dorothy Moore from SDA

[reaching4heaven]

How we work the Moore Formula:

Study
Library books, library books & more library books. He's interested in helicopters & airplanes so we always have at least 1 of those books in the house, usually 2 or 3. We started with simple flap books that showed how rescue helicopters work & have advanced to a science book that explains how human flight developed (hot air balloons, gliders, hang gliders . . . up to the latest & greatest) and has simple science experiments with every section for a hands on understanding (he's 7). There are also great DVD documentaries for when I get tired of reading aloud.  This developed into an interest in the Apollo Spacecrafts, the Solar System & Astrology which we've studied more thoroughly, and field trips to air shows & fly-ins. I get books at his reading level and above - he likes them all. The books that are overly advanced have better pictures than the books his level so he likes to go through them alone and then asks me to read certain sections. (I approve all books before they come home from the library. In fact, he's usually stuck in front of the fire truck & plane section so is pleasantly surprised with what I've found.) I also look through the biographies, math & other sciences, history, geography & health sections so we get a wide variety of books - he loves them all. When we read history books we get out a large atlas I got for $1 at a library sale (Outdated, but fine for his age.) and have a geography lesson, too. Math is hands on with beans or whatever we want to play with as we learn to count by 2's, 5's, etc. We do word problems, too...so-and-so's family is coming for Sabbath lunch - how many more chairs do we need? It's really just simple stuff at this age, and developing an interest to learn more - no pushing. I place a stack of books & worksheets on a little table on the week days and he choses what he wants to do. He didn't want to touch math for ages, he got frustrated with not understanding, and then one day he pulls it out of the pile & does several worksheets without help. Go figure.

The World Book Encyclopedia has a curriculum outline for Kindergarten through High School you can use as a guideline for selecting books if your local school doesn't give you one. I haven't used a guideline at his age, just grabbed a variety of books to spark interest. But I got curious (nervous about waiting!) and checked off what we have covered and he's exceeded their academic suggestions in most subjects. (I would never tell him that.)

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum/kindergarten

I have set aside a "school time" because I get too busy with things and don't want to do nothing - he'd be bored.

Work
Dad was putting a gate on the fence today so he helped with that instead of reading, etc. Priorities are to learn skills & be a helper - he hauled boards, put in screws & painted. We are focusing on using real tools and educational toys. He really likes Lego's, K'Nex, his Lasso (Dad wasn't too happy to be roped behind his back today... ), magnets, marbles, gadgets & a few cars. He also splits kindling, weeds, helps with laundry & kitchen chores, comes running when I need a hammer or screw driver, and woke up first and set the table for breakfast without being asked this morning - now that's a blessing!  (I told him when he turns 8 he will start cooking - he's thrilled, now he cuts soft veggies - supervised.) I bought their "Minding Your Own Business" book, but I can't think of what to do for a home business - I'll have to start praying about that!

Service
As I read the Moore Formula overview I noticed the SOS part again, for the first time.  Son's been wanting to have a neighborhood club - he's the only child in the neighborhood.  I think I see an SOS - Service Over Self club house in our near future. I've been searching for ways to get us involved and I think this will be a 1st step toward helping neighbors . . . drawing pictures for the elderly & baking bread for them (yes, he likes to help with the bread making, too.) until we can think of other things.

And I see it is after 1AM and I need sleep! How time flies when I have trouble expressing myself. I've not forgotten about the comments from the SDA School Tuition topic...I will get to them hopefully next week. I wanted to set a platform for how we are homeschooling now before going further into E.A. Sutherland's book which I learned so much from or ideas about future schooling.

God bless.

[Kevin Barrett]

We're utilizing the Moore method with our children for the reasons you've stated.
We have our children for precious little time and my wife and I have been
impressed to go this route for their education.

[reaching4heaven]

Service

We had an unexpected "missionary moment" yesterday. (This is pitiful compared to cp's work, but we tried...) We arrived at the library before it opened so we sat at a nearby table and made tissue paper flowers to pass time. We made 5 flowers together and son handed them out to different people with a happy "Jesus loves you!" There were 3 people that were so touched I was amazed. One we spent time talking about God with, one was thrilled someone gave her something for no reason, and one was a security guard stationed at the library entrance that we had opportunity to discuss homeschooling with on the previous trip. I only regret we forgot to bring along a pocketful of those pocket sized Signs of the Times pamphlets.

The security guard was the last one who got a flower. She gasped at how pretty it was as we walked in. But, it was the last one and son knew it was his to keep. We stopped at an area close to her and I whispered how nice it would be to give it to her, but he didn't want to. That was fine since I had already said it was his to keep. But, I felt there was something stronger working here than just a flower so I prayed God would work on his heart and before I knew it he was over there giving it to her. She was absolutely thrilled with the gift & is so receptive to us now...she's in our prayers for the next trip. I never know what to say so please pray for us!

Oh, and one person acted like we wanted something in return for giving her a flower...maybe since we didn't she'll not be so cynical & someone can reach her someday. 

[reaching4heaven]

We're utilizing the Moore method with our children for the reasons you've stated.
We have our children for precious little time and my wife and I have been
impressed to go this route for their education.

If you'd like to share any insights (and the ages of your children) I'm open!

[BobRyan]

We had no intention at all of homeschooling. Our plan was to make sure we attended an SDA church with a church school and put them there. But when the first of my two daughters was age 6 and ready to enter first grade  - our chuch got a new school principle. In God's providence it turned out that he was the SAME priniciple that I HAD when I was in the 8th and 9th grade. I had always remembered that he and his wife were the absolute best SDA teachers anyone could ever imagine! They were fund and creative and had a real heart for education.

(I did say "But when the first of my two daughters was.." right?)

As we talked to him about sending our daughters to his school he said "why don't you homeschool for a few years"? We said "no way!! We don't know what we are doing and oh by the way YOU and your wife are in fact THE BEST!". But he insisted that we give it a try and said he would help us. Well we had to think about it.

Then "in God's providence" we had an associate pastor who was ALSO homeschooling his kids. He offerred to help us. (That family has sinced joined AFM and have been missionaries for almost 20 years).

Well bottom line -- we started our children in home school from day one and we have NEVER been at a church SINCE where  the principle recommended homse school or the associate pastor WAS homeschooling! We decided to do homeschool "one year at a time". Each year saying "We will not do it again after this year  - if it stops working". In their early teens they read a book called "I kissed dating goodbye' and decided not to date until they were ready for marriage.

We homeschooled through High School. Our daughters received scholarships to one of the best known engineering schools in the nation. The oldest was the only female in her software engineering class to graduate Summa Cum Laude that semester. They started an SDA student group on campus and we have been thankful to God for his leading -- all the way.

in Christ,

Bob

[reaching4heaven]

Having the Principle tell you to try homeschooling is definitely unique! What a blessing homeschool is for parent & child. You really get to know your child when around them constantly - and know yourself! Our church was discussing the possibility of starting a SDA School because there are several homeschoolers in the church - not one homeschooler wanted their child to attend. We weren't against it forming, their are some parents who choose not to homeschool but would prefer a SDA School over public school, we just weren't interested. It's a once in a lifetime experience to build a child's character for eternity, to develop their interests & guide their development in every aspect of life.


"I Kissed Dating Goodbye" is on our recquired reading list when our son is old enough. 

[psalm103:10-13]

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing!! I am home schooling my six year old. So far I have been taking it very slow because of a few things I read from EW. April is also very interested in space and we have gotten several books from the library about that and other topics. I have also made math, writing, and time etc. pages on our computer. We did some stuff with gardening last summer and it was great to see how much fun something as simple as a pumpkin could be.
I have been feeling the pressure from family and friends to put her into a more structured curriculum but have been unsure of what to do. After reading your post I feel encouraged and am going to look into the Moore Formula. It sounds like it is just what I have been looking for!!

[Raven]

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing!! I am home schooling my six year old. So far I have been taking it very slow because of a few things I read from EW. April is also very interested in space and we have gotten several books from the library about that and other topics. I have also made math, writing, and time etc. pages on our computer. We did some stuff with gardening last summer and it was great to see how much fun something as simple as a pumpkin could be.
I have been feeling the pressure from family and friends to put her into a more structured curriculum but have been unsure of what to do. After reading your post I feel encouraged and am going to look into the Moore Formula. It sounds like it is just what I have been looking for!!

Those who would try to pressure you to "go with the flow" don't understand the big picture when it comes to homeschooling vs. public or parochial schools.  We homeschooled both of our kids.  They are now 16 and 18, well able to read and write and do math; and are not maladjusted in relation to the rest of society.  They have also avoided all the negative peer pressure that is so prevalent in all the school systems, public or private.  My son was reluctant to read, so we wondered how that would turn out.  Then he discovered instruction manuals, and Popular Science.    Now he carries on conversations with a biochemistry major that are over my head.  If you give them the basics and some guidance, they will do the rest.

We chose to homeschool because we couldn't afford the SDA school (and public school would have never been an option).  And, in retrospect, it was the best thing to do, even if we could have afforded to put them in school.  The influences at so many of or SDA schools now are not what they were 50 years ago.

[newbie]

It is tough raising children today... so many influences of the world and it is hard to protect them until they have the mind to sort them out for themselves. 

[psalm103:10-13]

I was homeschooled because after my second grade year they wanted to hold me back the next year. My parents were livid because they had gone to every parent teacher conference and my teacher even went to our church and they never said I was behind (in reading and spelling) or that they should be working with me. They pulled me out and homeschooled me my third grade year and at the end I tested at the school with my same class and did great.
I wish however that it had been handled a little differently. The teachers made me feel (unintentionally, I'm sure) that I was... not as smart as the other kids. And even my mother ,in her efforts to "catch me up" with my class, made me feel stupid for not "getting it".

Then when I was nine a new book store opened up in our town and I wanted to buy a book.  My mom said I could and I bought the first of the "Babysitter Club" series. It sat in my room unread until I got sick and had to stay in bed. After the worst had passed and I was feeling better but not well enough to be up so I started to read and never went back.

The down side would probably be that I got addicted to novels in my teen years, but that would be a story for a different thread.

[guibox]

If it ends up being successful, then all the more power to you.

As a teacher, I can honestly say that 'successful homeschoolers' are few and far between in my experience. Some parents seem to like the concept of homeschooling for their child due to financial reasons or they just don't like the church school. Unfortunately, they really are not trained to deal with what that entails and what ends up happening is we have a student that is far behind everyone else when they do decide to come back to school.

I think homeschooling is not a decision that should be taken lightly and for the right reasons, not simply because you don't agree with the way the church school is run. If you do do it, make sure you know what you are doing, what is expected of you and your child and where they should be come year end.

[Raven]

If it ends up being successful, then all the more power to you.

As a teacher, I can honestly say that 'successful homeschoolers' are few and far between in my experience. Some parents seem to like the concept of homeschooling for their child due to financial reasons or they just don't like the church school. Unfortunately, they really are not trained to deal with what that entails and what ends up happening is we have a student that is far behind everyone else when they do decide to come back to school.

I think homeschooling is not a decision that should be taken lightly and for the right reasons, not simply because you don't agree with the way the church school is run. If you do do it, make sure you know what you are doing, what is expected of you and your child and where they should be come year end.

Your experience must be the exception, rather than the rule.  Homeschooled kids routinely score higher on tests than public school kids.  Not sure about statistics for HS vs. private school.  Probably not as great a discrepancy.  There are so many resources and support groups for homeschoolers now, that one would have to be singularly inept to do poorly at it, or so it seems to me.  "We" (my wife did the teaching  ) even got my daughter through Algebra!       That was due to the excellent resources available to help her through it. 

Don't forget that in the early days of this country most kids were homeshchooled because they were needed on the farm.  These were the people who built our nation.  A "formal" education didn't seem to hamper them too much.

[psalm103:10-13]

Your experience must be the exception, rather than the rule.  Homeschooled kids routinely score higher on tests than public school kids.  Not sure about statistics for HS vs. private school.  Probably not as great a discrepancy.  There are so many resources and support groups for homeschoolers now, that one would have to be singularly inept to do poorly at it, or so it seems to me.  "We" (my wife did the teaching  ) even got my daughter through Algebra!       That was due to the excellent resources available to help her through it. 

Don't forget that in the early days of this country most kids were homeshchooled because they were needed on the farm.  These were the people who built our nation.  A "formal" education didn't seem to hamper them too much.

I couldn't have said it better, Raven.

There is nothing wrong with going to school, it is the best option for some.
But after doing both personally in my school years, I think that homeschool has some big advantages. But it is like any other tool, if not used properly it can be harmful. If you don't want to put the time and energy into doing it right, it's probably not for you.