It's a privilege to have been providing our five children, aged 6 through 29, a home-based education the past nineteen years.

              I'm not one to hasten to the defense of homeschoolers or to vigorously offer-up evidence of our aggregate success. The proof is in the pudding.  Nevertheless, I will comment on a few aspects of homeschooling from our family's perspective and experience.
               

              Yes, we live in the real world.  We abide in a real house with real trees in the yard, eat real food, wear real clothes, have real friends and real social and business contacts (with sinners and sinning saints); we shop at the real grocery stores and the real Wal*Mart, pay real taxes, drive a real van into which our sons pump real gasoline; we are really grieved by the really sinful condition of the world and really relieved that we are not required to participate in all aspects of its sinfulness.  Moving on...

              I will not supply a long list of sports activities, clubs, events, lessons, and groups in which our children are involved....because there's no list.  The rearing of our children has not required that we hustle from one social activity to another in order to stimulate or preserve their minds and bodies.  We don't live an isolated life, yet we also don't seek to fill our lives with incessant pleasures and social contacts or an endless potpourri of special lessons.

              We've done our reasonable share of library programs, guitar lessons, music lessons, fishing, hunting, traveling, field trips...but these activities do not necessarily a good homeschooler or great parent make.
               

              Children who are the constant companions of other children their age will most likely become peer-dependent.  The family is the perfect teacher of social skills, for within it are people of varying ages and stages.  As we prepare our children for adult life, we do well to teach them how to interact with people of all ages--not only those who are the same age as they.

              Our goal, our purpose, has been to rear children with a heart for the things of the Lord, and we can best do that by rearing them ourselves and not setting them under the tutelage of others-- particularly in a humanistic educational system.

              "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."
              Deuteronomy 6:5-9
              We make mistakes and struggle, but so do other educational systems.  Our children are bright, energetic, entertaining, cheerful, and a joy to be around.  Perfect?  No.  But they are, indeed, an heritage from the Lord, and counted among our richest blessings.

              Not all homeschoolers are alike; perhaps no two are alike.  Homeschooling affords the opportunity for each individual family to pursue the tasks, goals, curricula, methods, and mindset which work for their family and are aligned with God's will for their lives.  Occasionally one will meet a veteran (or novice) homeschooler who appears to have all the answers and know the best ways and methods.  But most of us are merely doing our personal best and enjoy receiving new ideas from others walking a similar path.  We absorb and implement with a grateful heart what will enhance our own endeavors, and we applaud the individuality of each family.

              Mrs. Alphabet's Links  ~ This is a recent find of mine, and I rate it a five-star site.  I've not yet had the time to view everything on the page, but you'll be delighted with the link to printable worksheets in all core subjects.

              Crosswalk.com  ~ This site includes "HSLDA" (Home school Legal Defense Assn), State Laws, online support Group, and Encouragement.

              HSLDA  ~ This link will take you directly to the Home School Legal Defense Association home page.

              Home Education Magazine  ~ Homeschooling Information & Resource Pages

              WWW Dictionary  ~ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

              WWW Thesaurus  ~ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus

              God's World News  ~ This organization provides news publications, books, and other materials and services in various media for Christians of all ages and in a variety of church and educational settings. The goal of all their products and services is to assist in developing a biblical worldview for all aspects of life.

              A Beka Book  ~ This is the online site of a highly-regarded publisher of Christian curricula.  (Site includes extensive online catalog.)

              Timberdoodle Company  ~ Timberdoodle is a family owned and operated supplier of educational supplies.  (Very reasonable prices, comprehensive product reviews, and online catalog)

              "Objections"  ~ This is a response to a collection of some of the most common objections to the concept of home education.

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              Last Updated August, 2002