Tag Archives: training

Train Up A Child?

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.” This is one of the homeschooling parent’s favorite verses. This verse is what motivates Christian parents to teach their own kids in their own homes. This encourages us to seek out Bible based curriculum.

Just in case Christian homeschooling isn’t enough, we add church, Sunday school, youth groups, AWANA, Keepers of the Faith Clubs, UPWARDS, etc. We try to “socialize” our kids with other Christian homeschoolers by joining support groups and co-ops.

We are careful about how much tv , secular music, internet, social media, or video games they are allowed. We monitor their reading choices. We enforce modesty.

But, we don’t want our kids to be too “sheltered” as we fear they won’t know how to act once they enter into the “real world”, so we get them involved in mission projects. We add current event studies to our homeschool days. Sometimes we may go as far to watch a Twilight DVD or an episode of Teen Mom with our teenage girls or some Alien Zombie Something with the teen boys so they can find out for themselves just what all the hype is about.

Is this enough training in the “way they should go”? A homeschool parent has hope that it’s enough. But a homeschool parent also has doubt. At least this homeschool mom has doubts sometimes.

I’m taking a serious look at how I have been training mine. It’s not only because A-21 is struggling to make a place in his post homeschool world, it’s also because of a new blog and social media site I stumbled on. In fact I’ve been shedding tears over it. My heart is breaking for those who have written articles. The site? Homeschoolers Anonymous.

These former homeschoolers have written several articles. I only read a few before tears blurred my vision. They share stories of abuse, of being social outcasts and misfits. Some have written about “breaking free” of the faith they were taught by their parents. Homeschoolers Anonymous has a mission statement. The following is what I copied and pasted from their site:

“The mission of Homeschoolers Anonymous is:

1. To bring awareness to the suffering many children experience through aspects of certain homeschooling subcultures

2. To educate the public about the inner workings and politics of the homeschooling world

3. To provide a voice against some of the extreme positions from within homeschooling ideology

4. To inspire others to speak up about abuse and control

5. To give hope to those who currently suffer from abuse and control

6. To bring healing to those who have escaped an abusive or controlling home environment and provide new survivors with resources for developing independence

7. To create a community of shared experiences”

E17 knew I was upset. I confided in her. I told her about Homeschoolers Anonymous. She tried to assure me that she’s glad that she’s been homeschooled. She does not think she’s been overly sheltered. She does not think I’ve forced my faith on her. She says that she’s planning to homeschool her own children some day. She gave me hope.

I’m praying about the training. I want it to be in the way they should go. I’m praying about the way I teach and the way my kids learn. I’m praying that I’m not being too controlling or forceful. I’m praying that they will never feel that they have been brainwashed or have to “break free” from their mom’s faith. I’m praying that my kids will know that I love them more than anything else on earth. And I am praying that they will come know, love, and follow Jesus through something I said or did or had them do.

Here’s the link to Homeschoolers Anonymous: http://homeschoolersanonymous.wordpress.com/about/

betty jo

Keeping The Code

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I usually learn as much as the kids do in our homeschool. The “all things middle ages” that we have been researching this school year has been quite educational for me. Recently, I realized that I want my sons (I have 4 of them) to be knights. Not the modern ones such as Paul McCartney or Elton John, but the kind of knights from the middle ages. Well, minus the jousting.

As a knight in training, a boy would start off as a page at 7 years old, (I have a 7 year old). He would be responsible for some chores, he received an education and learned to read Latin. He was taught manners, and learned and practiced skills that would serve him later. Not a bad start, huh?

At age 14, (I have a 14 year old, too), the page became a squire. This was his time of apprenticeship with a trusted knight. Real one on one tutoring and hands-on studies happened here. Practical life skills and life or death lessons were learned. Responsibilities were increased.

When the knight in training turned 21, (oh yeah, got one 21, too), he was ready to become a noble knight. But first, before he was dubbed, he had to vow to keep The Code of Chivalry. This is the real reason behind my wanting my boys to become knights. These young men swore to protect the weak, fight wrong, seek justice, be loyal to friends, and be fair to all people. They promised to be true, gentle, faithful, and brave. They pledged to honor and respect women, to be generous, and to dare to do right. I want my sons to develop the character needed to be able keep to this code.

I have daughters, too. One is my own, and one that we pretend is mine. I do not want them to ever be helpless damsels in need of being rescued. I want them to be well educated, trained, and practiced in their callings, too. I think this Code applies to them as well. And definitely should apply to their future husbands.

Here’s the link to the Code of Chivalry and everything else middle ages: http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm

And here’s the link to free lapbooks on knights which includes a simplified knight’s code: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/knights_lapbook.php and knight connections http://www.homeschoolshare.com/connections__middle_ages.php

And here’s a random pic that showed up on my Facebook newsfeed , seems to be appropriate.

betty jo

The Pen of POWER

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One of the most often used tools as a homeschooling mom is my red gel pen. It is known around here as “The Pen of POWER” (that needs to be said with a fading echo on the word “power”). With my trusted red gel pen I “X” out wrong math answers and missed spelling words. With my red ink I circle, underline, and comment all over essays and reports. I use this pen to record grades on their “PERMANENT RECORD”.

Sometimes I catch a look of dread as I am giving an assignment back to one of the kids as they notice the red all over. They know they will have corrections to make. They are learning that it is better to do it right the first time. Sometimes they may think that I’m being too critical with the grading. But, I “X”, circle, underline and comment because I’m trying to be helpful. I want to encourage them to try harder… to always do their best. I want them to learn that when mistakes are made, they should try to fix them. With my pen of power I help my kids share their ideas in ways that will be correct and easily understood. It is with this pen that I help them to be the best students they can possibly be.

In my old KJV, Christ’s spoken words are in red. These red words correct me when I’m wrong. These red words help me to learn what is correct and in a way that is easily understood. These red letters encourage me to try harder. They give me the push I need to be the best I can possibly be. His words are never too critical, but always helpful and always spoken in love.

I want my red letters to be spoken in love whether they say “A+”, or “rewrite”, or “correct for half credit”. My red gel pen truly does have power. Spiderman said, “With great power, comes great responsibility”. With my red gel pen I do have great responsibility…to train up my kids in the way they should go.

betty jo