How to Develop a Vision to Make Your Homeschool Productive
It starts to feel like chaos. Molly sits down and questions what has changed and why things aren’t going as smoothly as she had hoped. Finally, she decides which books and curriculum that they’ll use. And she even uses a planner to help her lay it all out before her eyes. But somehow, somewhere during the school year, things become a bit derailed. By the middle of the school year, their homeschool is shaping to be much different than she originally thinks it will. She’s beginning to feel overwhelmed and is finding that she needs to adjust the plan somewhat to feel that they’ll *finish* the school year as close to the original plan as possible.
Sound familiar?
How to Develop a Vision to Make Your Homeschool Productive
What went wrong for Molly? To begin with, choosing curriculum and utilizing a planner were great first steps. However, what Molly lacked was a concrete vision in order for her to be productive in her role. So, what does that look like and how could Molly develop a vision for her homeschool? To begin with let’s define the words vision and productive:
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:
vision, n.
6. Any thing which is the object of sight.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:
Productive, n.
2. Fertile; producing good crops.
3. Producing; bringing into being; causing to exist; efficient;
Specific and Measurable Goals
So, as homeschooling parents we want to have specific and measurable goals to help us produce good fruit in our children’s hearts (and ours as we learn along their side). We also want to be efficient. Below are suggestions which I find helpful and maybe you will, too.
1. Get alone with the Bible, Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, a journal, and a pen. These will help you with writing your philosophy of education and with principles you want to teach during the school year in any given subject.
2. Set time aside for no interruptions. It’s okay if you have to do this over the course of a few days. I have nine children so I get it. The point is that you do it.
3. Pray for the Lord to give you wisdom for your family. Give yourself permission to go before Him and seek Him. Ask Him to open your eyes to the spiritual needs for each of you.
4. Jot down areas that He has been revealing to you about your children (and yourself). What heart matters do you need to address? What do you need to help your children see the cause to effect about (personal choices, character, things going on in the world, etc.)? Shape some of your lesson content around these things.
5. Write down what you want to see happen. This is your vision. It’s important that your vision is written with positivity and that you feel excited about it. If negative thoughts come to mind (how will it happen? will my children’s hearts really be changed? it seems overwhelming or impossible, etc.) you need to take captive those thoughts. Your positive vision will help you see past doubt. If you work toward it in faith and are diligent to see it through to the best of your abilities, you can expect growth.
6. Write down your philosophy of education and read it every.day. This will help you to remain focused on your vision for your family, which will in turn help you be productive. You know, at times there are educational things that sound enticing and can be easy to go for. However, they aren’t necessarily fruitful for every family. Taking the time to remind yourself of your vision can help you check yourself to see that you are keeping with the vision for your homeschool so that you (and your students) are productive.
If you’re a Caterpillar Member, we have a free printable download to help guide you in making a philosophy of education for your homeschool. You can access it at the Caterpillar Member’s Area at the Principled Academy Notes Newsletter link.
We’d love to hear about the philosophy of education that you develop. Please leave a comment telling us about it.
Blessings!
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