Homeschool Planning

Through prayer, common sense, and much consideration my husband and I have decided to homeschool our girls beginning in the school year of 2012-2013. Currently our girls are attending ECS a local christan school where they are receiving an outstanding education. We have been very pleased with Brendlee's progress while attending ECS this last school year. This coming school year Brilynn will be joining her at the school, I do not doubt that she will also progress at an outstanding pace.

Some may raise the question, if you love the school why homeschool? I can only answer this question by saying "COST" and that I know I can do it myself. This is where the common sense factor comes into play. A huge fear of mine has been that "I" am not capable of doing such a thing as "homeschooling". Prayer was needed to get over this fear. Along with prayer, working in the public school realm the last part of the school year, took this fear away. Am I completly fearless, NO. I am reminded of the verse that says, "If he calls you, he will equip you". I look back over several years span and I see how God has been equipping me for this day. I have been equipped through education, work experience, family resources, and personal experience.

The first thing I pointed out was about being equipped through education. While in college I took the following classes:
- Principles of Teaching
-Curriculum Development
-Child Growth and Development
-Educational Psychology
-Adolescent Psychology
-Recreational Leadership
-General Psychology
These classes formed a basis for me to help teach my own children.
Work experience has also equipped me from working in the public schools to working in the a small preschool. Homeschool takes organizational skills and it was here that I really developed my love for organization.
The third thing I meationed is family resources. As a very young child I can remember my mother teaching me to sort and staple papers. I love doing these types of things. In highschool I helped teach a local Girl Scout troop, my leadership skills began at a very young age. Along with my mother helping me build skills at a young age, my sister began to homeschool her own children. My sister has been very successful in homeschooling and has provided me with alot of advice and resources that will help me on this journey with my own children.

Through Jesus I can do this, because through Him all things are possible.

During the summer I have been helping my kids learn some new concepts to be prepared for the coming school year at ECS. Alot of fulfillment has come from teaching them. I look forward to this next school year as I prepare. You may be wondering why we are waiting a whole school year. This is also a simple answer. We had already paid tution/book fees before we made this choice. Also, Brilynn will receive alot of ground work for learning sounds and reading that I feel she needs before we begin at home. I feel that God could of placed this on my heart before this point but He did not, therefore we will send them this next school year and begin in the 2012-2013 school year!

To God be the Glory!