The unknown can be daunting. I wonder how many Christian families abandon the idea of home education in blind panic because they cannot comprehend how to teach mixed ages a full curriculum with housework, shopping, cooking and meet-ups thrown in.
What a tragedy to disregard a wonderful educational choice for our families because we more experienced home educators are not very good at explaining the ‘one-thing-at-a-time rule’. I would be devastated if somebody looked at where my family are today and assumed that we were simply carrying on as we had always been.
How did we go from one tiny newborn to classically educating seven children? The answer is that we began with one newborn and started adding one thing at a time. This is how it looks:
1. We Build a Firm Foundation.
‘Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.’ (Psalm 127:1)
Once we decided to home educate our (one!) child, I began praying and researching. I listened to sermons on parenting, marriage and education whilst I cleaned the house and watched over little ones. I joined relevant Facebook groups and asked lots of questions. I used the wisdom God has given me to tentatively select curricula over the internet and I watched his hand in delight when he placed ‘The Well-Trained Mind’ in my life via a lady who thought of me. Classical education resonated with me; the course was set.
I knew some things would only be learned by experience, but the Lord had established the direction, warmed my heart and excited me. I was raring to go.
2. We Start Small
‘For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice…’ (Zechariah 4:10)
When my oldest child was able, I taught him to read. Once he showed some skill with a pencil, I added a couple of lines of handwriting each day. I began teaching him a memory verse along side his longer siblings. Once my older set of twins were able, I taught them phonics…then added a little handwriting and so on, and so on.
Think about your situation. Perhaps you have a child who does not read yet. Could you find ten minutes a day at a regular time to teach him phonics? I’m guessing you could. Might you be able to add a weekly swimming lesson to your schedule? Once these things are under your belt, could start reading exciting history stories to them a couple of afternoons a week?
Can you see how we gently build up a lifestyle of learning? We might not be able to find time to institute a full-blown curriculum, but we can always find ten more minutes.
3. We Consistently Reassess
‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ (1 Corinthians 10:31)
God has set us 24 hours in each day, and many of these hours are on repeat! We serve meals three times a day, we put little ones to bed each evening, we may well teach certain subjects on particular days. I wonder whether we fall for the lie that in order to glorify God, we must cram more and more into our waking hours. Instead, perhaps we should be seeking to improve what we already do.
I am consistently thinking about various parts of the day and asking myself how they can flow more smoothly. If an academic subject with a particular child is not working, then what are the reasons for this? If certain parts of the day or week always descend into chaos, then can I pre-empt the situation somewhat? If nobody can find a pencil at the start of the day, perhaps we need to cancel bookwork and reclaim the house!
4. We rely on the Lord
‘…But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.’ (1 Samuel 30:6)
I often wonder how I am going to make something work. My younger set of twins began Maths this week and I was genuinely concerned how I was going to manage seven children doing Maths at their own pace each morning alongside all the other things we try accomplish. I prayed, planned, made some adjustments and lo and behold this week I have found myself milling around with nothing to do two mornings on the trot! The older five seem to have become independent over-night and are gently mocking me because I actually really enjoy Maths and nobody wants my help!
I am sure we will have some more hiccups in the days to come, but the Lord has encouraged me that it can work.
Finally
I sometimes wonder whether the ‘one-thing-at-a-time’ rule is so effective because it is something like the way that the Lord deals with us. I am sure many of us look back to our unconverted selves or to those first few years of our walk with the Lord and cringe at some of our behaviours and attitudes. Perhaps we reflect on our current selves and wonder why we still carry around so many sinful patterns of thought and conduct. The truth is that the Lord is patient with us and that his will is our sanctification, which is why he so gently deals with us….one thing at a time.
