The TOS Blog Cruise ~ Question of the Week ~ "How do you know what to teach?"

The TOS Homeschool Crew has decided to set sail on a new adventure ~ The Blog Cruise ~ a weekly blog carnival which will also be shared on the Crew's Facebook page. Each week there will be a new topic/question for Crew members to answer. You can click on The Blog Cruise button above to take you to the TOS Homeschool Crew's Facebook page to read more responses from my crewmates! Check in weekly here at The Homeschool Desk to read my thoughts on each question or topic.

This week's question, "How do you know what to teach?"

There are many common questions I receive when telling someone that I homeschool. I take each question as an opportunity to educate others about something that they may not know much about and are honestly curious, or maybe they are considering homeschooling their children, but are insecure about the decision.

So, how do I know what to teach? First and foremost, my homeschool is nothing like the public school. Honestly, I strive to be that way. It's nothing personal against the public school. I went to public school my entire life and loved it. But, since we are homeschoolers, and have different needs and opportunities, I feel that it's important to take advantage of them...to make our homeschool its own unique experience.

We don't have to get up at o'dark thirty and stand out at the bus stop in the cold and have school for 6-7 hours a day, so what I teach may be very different from what the public school teaches, then again, you may find that we are not much different either. I want my children to love school, I want them to enjoy school. They don't always enjoy or get excited over every subject they have to learn, but that's alright with me too. One of my main goals is to teach my children to appreciate the fact that they are homeschooled, that it's a unique education in our home where they won't get anywhere else, where if they give it their best effort, they have so much to learn.

I have a few basic requirements for education in my home. They are:

Christ, first and foremost, love and obey God, their parents, and love one another. Learn God's Word, and live it out each and every day. If I teach my children nothing else while they are home with me, I will be satisfied knowing that they know Christ. Yes, I want them to learn to read and write, but if they know God, then they will obey God and obey me as part of God's law. I am so thankful to have a heavenly father as my school superintendent.

Character training, which if the above is going well, we usually don't have too much to worry about. I expect my children to treat others as they want to be treated, to learn manners and good responsibility for themselves, their pets, and their belongings. To learn how to be a member of a family and help with chores, so that they will be able to care for themselves and their own homes someday. Also, charity...to give to others in need.

Read, read, read. Learn to read, then learn to love to read. Anything can be learned just by reading. I taught 2 of my children to read, my oldest learned in public school where she attended through 3rd grade. All 3 of my children are avid readers. This has helped so much when teaching them other subjects.

Writing, learn how to write properly, in printing, and in cursive, then learn to write for pleasure, for learning, and for expressing one's thoughts.

'Rithmetic, yes math. Very important subject, and yes, they will need to use this someday. Not only the grade level math in their textbooks I require them to learn, but basic life skills math as well, such as math you may need to use in the grocery store, to balance a checkbook, how long it takes to save up for something special, even for cooking.

Science, we are all over the place in science. We learn whatever we are interested in, whatever we can stay interested in, nature, astronomy, animals, plants, the weather. We love learning about God's creation, and appreciating how His hand has touched it all.

Language Arts, learn proper grammar, parts of speech, spelling, basic English skills necessary for reading, writing, and being articulate.

History, we love history, learning Bible history, alongside U.S. History, World History, State History, and what it means to us today.

Geography, map skills, not only learn about the country that we live in, but other parts of the world we may never visit, what their homes are like, what it's like to live there, how far they are from us in the US.

Communication skills in speaking and writing.

Computer skills, typing skills, as well as internet and basic computer learning.

Whatever else I feel like throwing in at the time, if I feel that I want my children to learn it, then we'll learn it together! In other words, just because I didn't list it here, doesn't mean we didn't learn it or that we won't in the future. The possibilities are endless....and since I am the one in charge of their education, I get to choose! And, I think that's just wonderful.

Everything I teach is taught from a Christian Worldview. Our reason for being here and being saved is in Christ alone, and I want my children to have that as their foundation for learning. Everything else I teach them just falls in place all around what we know about Christ and his sacrifice for us.

My oldest will be a high school student next year. She has plans for college and veterinary school. So, now I've been asking myself the question, "How will I know what to teach for High School??"

I have utilized the internet and other resources available to me, including information from HSLDA, the Home School Legal Defense Association, which I have been a member of since I started homeschooling. They have several articles and helpful tools on their website regarding Homeschooling Through High School. You can find them here. I have been working on a 4-year plan for my college bound student since she was in the middle of 7th grade. It is extremely important that I do teach what is necessary not only for her to meet graduation requirements, but the requirements necessary for college acceptance. So, she is taking 8th grade level courses this year, and also started using College Prep Genius, which I reviewed for the Crew here. She will be taking the PSAT in the fall, and we are doing everything possible to be sure she will be getting an excellent high school education as well as be prepared for college.

Now, looking at my list, basically, I've listed most of the subjects students would receive in a Christian School education. If I were to take out the Bible, and character training, then it would be about the same subjects they would receive in a public school education.

I use various curriculum resources in our homeschool, I have tried many, and stick with what works best for each individual child. You can view some of the curriculum we use in my sidebar under Curriculum We Use.

The fact that my children and I are learning together makes it a home education that I know we all will be so grateful for someday when they have graduated and on their own. We're learning not only the 3 Rs, but we're learning about each other. Each day is a precious gift that I get to spend with my children, watch them grown, watch them learn, have a large part, that I may not have otherwise if they were gone all day, in raising them to be smart, confident, good people someday.

An excellent resource for homeshoolers starting out that aren't sure what to teach is World Books' Typical Course of Study. It lists the basics for each grade level from preschool through 12th grade. It is wonderful to use as a guideline, or to get ideas if you aren't sure what to teach next! I have used it myself a few times over the years for ideas and to check to see if my children are learning generally the same topics that their peers are. Although, I don't spend too much time comparing them, I do like to know that we are covering the same basic ground.

To read my crewmates answers to this question, just click on the Blog Cruise Button at the top of this post!

Stay tuned next week, when my crewmates and I take on the question, "How do you know if your kids are keeping up with their peers?"

**Edited to add: In my home state of NJ, there aren't any laws requiring that I teach certain subjects, and I am free to teach my children what I please. However, in some states in the U.S., as well as internationally, there are subjects that are required by law, such as state history. To be sure that you are in compliance with the homeschool laws in your state, please visit the HSLDA website.**

**All original text belongs to The Homeschool Desk**