Yesterday, I was getting school plans ready for next year. Yes, it’s early but Florida offers a tax credit to homeschoolers each year (nice benefit after paying years taxes for a school system we didn’t use). I had to select what we would be learning and I was impressed that not only did they have the school subjects we all know and love but they also had some things to learn that I’m afraid are left far behind.
So, I have been reflecting on this. We teach our children Math, Language Arts, History, Science, etc but do our children know how to live day to day. What other “subjects” are we teaching them.
Some I chose to help Mellie grow in as she enters 6th grade are….
DISCIPLINE
Discipline would be teaching our children to have self-control, reason and commitment to consistency. I would say this is a very important subject to teach and as we teach it to our children to tell them it is Spirit-control. We cannot, on our own, have self-control. We need the help of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
This subject is taught throughout the year in day to day activities. When things come up, we take the time to stop and talk about the Holy Spirit leading in our lives. “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28) How do we rule our own spirit? Knowing the Holy Spirit!
DECISION-MAKING
This one is an important one to build up into in elementary. Melanie wants to make all kinds of decisions but they are usually above her because of her age. The hardest thing about living with older siblings, is she thinks she is as old as they are. However, they do need to learn to make wise decisions.
How do they learn to make wise decisions as adults? We can teach them to consult wise people while they are young and they will learn wisdom at their feet. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Most importantly, teach them to make wise decisions by being in the Word! God’s Word will never fail us!
TIME MANAGEMENT
This is a big stickler for me. I’m not a list maker (wish I was) or a hour by hour living type of person. But I do like to get up and start my day (slowly with coffee) and then get busy. I like to manage my time to get my things completed before I run out of energy. Of course, I was raised as a child to complete chores first and then pick up that book I want to read.
As a mother, I have had to readjust my life and sometimes pick up that book knowing that every chore in the house isn’t complete. It never is, though, right? However, I am trying to teach Melanie to have good time management. This comes in two forms. Doing her school, chores, etc. before she goes outside or on her technology is a big one for me.
Sometimes, I do loosen up and let her skip outside before school is done. Fresh air is rejuvenating. Another way we are teaching her time management is giving her a mini-schedule and then I try to not let her lay around in the mornings doing nothing when she gets up. I suppose because I’m a morning person, I feel that the best time to get things done is when you get up. I do not like seeing my kids sit around with nothing to do or complain in this way. If they are bored, they get a chore. The Bible reminds us of this truth. “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)
We could go through a few more but I think you understand. School subjects can be taught and we can go through the motions of getting their lessons accomplished. We could check the boxes and say school is done but the reason I homeschool (one of them) is that we are never done. We MUST teach them more than their three R’s. Life is so much more than knowledge. As they move through life, they need wisdom.