Don’t Make Your Homeschool Just Like Public School
Did you attend public school? But now, do you find yourself homeschooling? Well, that was me a few decades ago, and I have a bit of advice about that… and it all begins with peanut butter.
When I first got married 29 years ago, I used to put JIF peanut butter in the fridge. My husband asked me why I did that, and I told him growing up, our family always put peanut butter in the fridge. He responded, “Yeah, but peanut butter back then would spoil. JIF doesn’t spoil now, and putting it in the fridge makes it hard to spread.”
Hmmmm. Good point. (And I probably should have switched to the healthier peanut butter that WOULD spoil then, but I didn’t.) I DID, however, stop putting JIF in the fridge. A year later, I stopped putting Crisco in the fridge. Habits die hard! And a lot of them are even more ingrained in us than where we put the peanut butter. In fact, I found some of the hardest habits I had to kick were linked to my public school years.
Do you want to homeschool because public school is not working out? Well, don’t put the peanut butter in the fridge just because it’s what you are used to doing; in other words, don’t make your homeschool just like public school just because it’s all you know. Habits die hard! But your homeschool is YOUR homeschool! So friend, here are five ways NOT to make your homeschool just like your public school!
One Room, One Desk
In public school, elementary kids spend the majority of their day in one room, each sitting at one desk. Sure, they move around some, but the bulk of the day really is spent in one place. Though middle school and high school students move around more, they’re really just moving from classroom to classroom. Rarely do they sit on a couch or in a comfy chair with a blanket.
Books are best read kicked back in a recliner or sprawled out on a couch, don’t you think? A chair by a fireplace or a table near a window make any task more pleasant. Where do you like to read? What places do you like to write? Your children probably feel the same.
In homeschooling, we can use our entire homes – indoors and outdoors! Movement is healthy. Certainly, kiddos need a ‘home base’ for their things, and they might do a fair share of their writing a certain place. However, science experiments in kitchens with lab reports written at the kitchen table work well! Storytime history books read aloud cuddled up on the living room couch together are heavenly! Bible Quiet Times first thing in the morning in pj’s in bed with fuzzy blankets and soft lamp lights greet the day so well! Dining room tables near windows let in the light and make math just a little more fun.
“One room, one desk” is a public school mentality. Don’t make your homeschool just like public school! Enjoy your whole home!
No Breaks
In public school, children get very few scheduled breaks or free time. Sure, they sit at their desks and stare into space for a fair share of time waiting on the teacher who is trying to get around to all 20+ students. However, they really don’t have free time to get up and go do something they want to do as a break.
In homeschooling, we can schedule breaks and free time. After a few hours of solid schoolwork, the brain needs a break. Why not plan for this in our routines? Our sons have always enjoyed a mid-morning hot cocoa and whipped cream with sprinkles break. It lasts about 20-30 minutes, and they love just sipping cocoa and talking.
Older siblings can have planned breaks from school by playing with their younger siblings, or even by trying their hand at teaching a few of their younger siblings’ subjects. Thirty-minute breaks work well for this!
All kiddos can have a “recess” break outdoors in good weather, or indoors in inclement weather. The fresh air and being out in God’s creation is good for the body, soul, and mind! Charlotte Mason would agree.
“No breaks” is a public school mentality. Don’t make your homeschool just like public school! Enjoy some planned breaks!
No Alone Time
In public school, children get little to no alone time. They are surrounded by people all day. Everyone needs a little alone time! When crowds surrounded Jesus, He often withdrew to lonely places to pray. After one of these alone sessions, He’d thought deeply enough to choose His 12 disciples.
Alone time gives kiddos time to think, to refresh, to reset, to relax, and to ponder deep thoughts. Constant noise and chaos creates havoc! Everyone needs a little alone time – even moms.
Bible Quiet Times provide a wonderful opportunity for alone time (though of course they include the added blessing of being with God). Devotionals encourage deep thinking and personal connection to God. Kiddos can read them during a little alone time, and then enjoy discussing them with a parent in a special together time.
Creative writing lends itself well to a little alone time. When writing is flowing, why not keep it going? Interruptions break the flow and interrupt a child’s train of thought. Art projects, living history books’ readings, and singing along with Scripture memory songs might be more private alone times too! Especially if a kiddo doesn’t enjoy singing in front of others!
“No alone time” is a public school mentality. Don’t make your homeschool just like public school! Enjoy some good alone time each day!
One Start Time, One End Time
In public school, children start and end their school days at the exact same times. It does not matter if they are “early birds” who work best in the mornings or “night owls” who work best in the evenings. Everyone has one start time and one end time, and it is non-negotiable. The same is true for teachers.
In homeschooling, we can make our schedules with individual preferences in mind. My oldest son was an “early bird”. He enjoyed beginning his homeschooling at 6 AM. My middle son was a “night owl”. He enjoyed doing a few hours of independent work for tomorrow’s school in the late afternoon or evening and starting homeschooling at 8 AM the next day. My youngest son loved alone time with me first thing in the mornings.
I am a morning person, but I also crave a little time with the Lord first. So, doing my Bible time first, and then cuddling up to do Bible or history in my pj’s with my youngest was always a favorite way to greet the day for me. Start times and end times can be changed every year based on what’s best for everyone!
Common times (like breakfast, recess, snack breaks, lunch) can be the same for everyone if that works best, but “One Start Time, One End Time” is a public school mentality. Don’t make your homeschool just like public school! Enjoy some leeway in start and end times based on personal preferences!
No Christianity
Public schools have shut the door on Christianity. With separation of church and state, Christian books, music, and prayers have been removed. Christian teachers have been silenced. Only secular resources may be used.
In homeschooling, we can invite God to school every day. We can talk with Him, praise Jesus, and lean on the Holy Spirit to help us through our days. Christian connections can be a part of virtually every single school subject! There are no banned books. The Bible can be our most treasured school book.
We can pray before meals, in the midst of disagreements, and after milestones made! Hymns can be sung. Scriptures can be quoted. Science can point to our Creator. We can recognize God as the author of history. Lessons can be learned from past mistakes, and the Bible can always, always be turned to as the ultimate deciding factor of what is right and what is wrong.
Does your state or your charter school only pay for secular homeschool materials? Don’t be tempted to opt for “no Christianity”. Does your church teach Bible, encourage Scripture memory work, and include Christian songs? Wonderful! But don’t be tempted to opt of out Christian resources in your homeschooling.
Our homeschools don’t need to look just like public schools; in fact, they shouldn’t. Take the peanut butter out of the fridge, and spread the love around a little! Enjoy your whole home, some planned breaks, a little alone time, and flexible start and end times… but ABOVE ALL, keep Christianity alive and well in your Heart of Dakota homeschool days! You’ll be so glad you did.
In Christ,
Julie
This Post Has 5 Comments
When I first started teaching my daughter about 30 years ago, it was hard to get the public school system out of my blood. Now I teach her children and we do much better. Although with so much reading in HOD, we do a lot of it together and do a lot of discussing. We sometimes don’t do school until after supper, as the middle boy has autism and can’t sleep at night. He sleeps in the day. That has been hard, but we are working it out.
This is excellent, Julie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I always love your posts so much and get great inspiration from them!
When I first pulled my oldest two out of public school to homeschool them half way through third grade I created a classroom complete with two little desks facing a white yard and a hanging American flag. We started each morning with the pledge and sat at those little desks and followed a regular public school routine. The day it dawned on me that I did’t have to recreate school at home was so freeing! Now 14 years later with my youngest two, we do school wherever and whenever they are most comfortable!
Oh, how I love this article! I began homeschooling my granddaughter when COVID hit. She was in kindergarten and I thought it would only be about 3 months. But as the 2020 summer progressed, I decided I wanted to keep homeschooling. I bought a desk and flag and posted flyers all over the dining room wall. She squirmed and would ‘zone out” at times. Then I had a hip replacement in July 2023 so we began the next school year on the sofa. What a difference! You are so on point with this article and I had to chuckle at myself as I read it.
Thanks for taking time to comment, ladies! I pray about what to write on the posts I have more creative leeway on, and I believe the Lord brought this topic to mind. I am so glad it spoke to you! It took me awhile to change the way I approached homeschooling, but once I did, it brought such peace and joy to our home! It is great to hear you are already doing this in your homes – may the Lord richly bless your homeschooling days with HOD!!!