I am a home school graduate. I am very proud to say so. So much so, that my friends, neighbors, and readers are probably sick and tired of my harping about how proud I am.

But I am, and rightly so. My parents gave me an excellent education and strong moral foundation that has stood me in good stead. Because of their hard work, I was more than sufficiently prepared for college-level work. The knowledge and study skills they instilled in me prepared me well for the rigors of training four energetic children of my own. Because of parental teaching, I am filled with hundreds, maybe thousands, of Scripture verses on which to rely in times of testing, distress, or fear; I never wonder what I believe about the Bible or Who God is or where I will spend eternity. They, along with so many pioneering home school parents like them, risked social persecution, governmental pressure, financial hardship, and family ostracism to boldly educate their children as they believed right. I am proud of that heritage and so grateful for their sacrifice.

I do not want to stop there. We cannot stop there. It would be disingenuous to not remain on the path these first-generation home schoolers have blazed and not continue to improve upon their means and methods. I know that the current generation of home schoolers has the potential to go even further.

While each family has its own strengths and weaknesses, many home educators tend to stumble in similar areas. Following are four foundational goals in particular that our family carefully tries to build up higher.

1. Teach more truth, less trivia.

Textbook learning, the worksheet-quiz-test style of institutions, and even my own home schooling days are very “trivia” based. Students are often taught to memorize empty facts—dates, names, places, maps—that are meaningless and quickly forgotten after the test. So what that the fall of Rome was 476 AD? Does the date mean anything to the student? What about the story of history itself, the acts of the men who shaped that date, and the years that led to it and then followed? The end of the Roman Empire and the beginning of barbarian invasion mean so much more than a number. The truths behind the story are so much more important.

Even more than the truth of what was happening, there is the truth of why it happened. Such teaching takes time to delve into, to research, to discuss with young ones; but appreciating the character of the characters we study not only makes every subject come alive, it keeps God foremost in the subject matter. Why study history if not to see God’s hand in the affairs of mankind? Why research science if not to trace God’s handiwork in His creation? Why memorize math facts if we know not Him Who holds all things by the Word of His power? Why read great literature if not to compare great books to the greatest Book of all? Knowing the greatest Truth of all must be the heartbeat of our home school.

2.  Make Bible time practical.

Even the subject of “Bible” can too easily become performance-oriented. We want our children to know all the Bible stories and memorize scads of verses. All too often our private devotions and family Bible time become man-centered. There are two focal points in our Bible time that can keep this from happening:

Counseling our children in areas of need: The Scriptures give us all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet.1:3), and our children need to be brought to the Source of all wisdom regularly.

Discipling our children toward Christlikeness: This is the true goal of Bible study anyway—to be changed into the image of Christ (cf. Romans 8). This knowledge of the Word of God should be worked out in changed lives that are transformed into living representations of Him.

3.  Focus on practical family living.

The reality is that these children will not remain children forever; they will grow up to be husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, citizens and employees someday. As important as “book learning” may be, it pales in comparison with keeping a home, providing for a family, rearing children, preserving a marriage, and building a reputation. Real character traits like loyalty, patience, commitment, a good work ethic, unconditional love, and endurance are often the most important lessons I can teach during the day or week at hand. Practical skills—like home maintenance, cooking, entrepreneurship, childcare, small machine repair, and finance—are necessities in which even small children should receive training regularly.

4.  Introduce lifelong learning.

Home education is too often seen as a K-12 phenomenon, something that ends when the child turns eighteen and when the parents can breathe a sigh of relief that the educating is done. While I look forward to a finish line as much as anyone, this model borrows too heavily from institutional models of education and does not realize learning’s true nature. Instead, we should be instilling a lifelong hunger for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in our children and training them to feed themselves quality food from God’s Word and the great books of the past and present.

Our duty as parents is to present a biblical worldview to our children throughout their studies and within their short time in our homes so that when they launch from the nest, they are prepared to discern what is good and what is best. This worldview will guide them in being wise citizens, strong family members, and critical thinkers as they face the unique challenges of their own generation.

Even more important, we must instill a passion for biblical scholarship within our children. Continued personal Bible study will ensure meekness, humility, and strength while combating the forces of error and deception in the world today and in the future.

The first modern generation of home schoolers produced graduates that are impacting our country and our world for God. By continuing to build on this heritage of sound academic achievement and prayerful biblical discipleship, the next generation of home school graduates can stand on our shoulders.

The post Going Further Than the Pioneers appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

Recently someone asked me how to get the most out of her first home school convention. The following are seven tips I gave her:

1. Make your list, and check it twice. Conventions are overwhelming sources of information, resources, and materials. Your shopping list should be divided into two parts: needs and wants. Needs should include any curriculum, textbooks, or resources you and your children must have for the coming school year. Wants are resources you already know you would like for your home library.
2. Budget your spending money. Save up for shopping. Home school conventions are an ideal time to do your curriculum and resource shopping for several reasons. First of all, you save on shipping, and many publishers offer convention specials. Second, you can handle the materials before you purchase them to make sure you are getting what you really want. Best of all, you can, in many cases, meet the authors and publishers of the books and curricula, asking questions and establishing personal relationships.
3. Dress and pack appropriately. Be certain to wear comfortable shoes and clothes for your active day; bring a sweater because conventions are notoriously cold. Wear a watch so you will not miss an important workshop. Bring a rolling cart for your purchases, if you have one, or extra tote bags. Inside your bag or cart, pack a notebook, pen, and highlighter for workshops and conference materials. If you are attending with a young child, throw some small, quiet toys and books in there, too, to amuse him during the workshops; keep in mind that some conferences do not allow strollers in the exhibit hall or workshops. Check the conference website for meal information, and pack a lunch or lunch money accordingly.
4. Schedule workshops. Before you begin shopping, be certain to check the workshop schedule and plan for the sessions you want to attend. Highlight them in your conference packet, or circle them prominently so you do not miss out on something important.
5. Plan your child strategy. Last year I lost my three-year-old, not once, but twice in one hour. I soon became very aware that to an energetic little boy, a home school conference looked like a very large toy store with very friendly people and children everywhere. He had a great time getting to know every vendor with an educational game, while I was frantically searching the exits. The only way we could survive was by dedicating one person to watch him while I perused the merchandise. Be aware that many home school conventions have children’s programs with pre-planned activities.
6. Grab business cards and pamphlets. I am very grateful for the relationships I established through the convention vendors I met last year. Their business cards are all organized in my files, and many have become dear friends. Take information from conference vendors; file it away in a catalog or home school material file at home so that, when you are looking for resources later, you will have a good starting point.
7. Stop by the THSC table. Be sure to get updated information from Texas Home School Coalition and say hello to the representatives at the table while you are there! Thank them for supporting home education freedom in Texas. Tell them Lea Ann sent you.

I hope you will attend a home school convention or two this year. I plan to pack up my family and enjoy a few. The fellowship, information, and resources are invaluable. With a little planning, strategic shopping, and friendly mingling, you will get the most out of each conference you attend.

The post How To Attend a Home School Convention in Seven Easy Steps appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.