Once again the significance of semantics has been brought to my attention. Through discussions with many families the importance of defining the difference between home schooling and home educating has become paramount. In my continual effort to train myself to more precise speech, I would like to examine two terms which are often used as synonyms.
Home schooling refers to the process of teaching school in your home. It often involves the strict adherence to a particular curriculum and the structuring of learning into definite time blocks. The curriculum may be a year or two ahead of the public schools, but the subjects taught are the same and follow in a similar order and the curriculum is spiral in nature. (meaning that concepts are taught and re-taught throughout the course of study) Home schooling, or replicating the public curriculum without the social garbage, works well for many families. The pluses are that the children will learn at a rate similar to their peers, the materials are all provided in the purchased curriculum packet. The draw backs include the risk of boring a bright child with too much repetition, not teaching to the learning style of a particular student, and large amounts of preparation and teaching time on the part of the parent if several children are being instructed at different levels.
Home educating is different in several ways. Most home educators also use packaged curriculums, however, they often will mix and match the best parts of several to suit their particular child. The focus of home educators is on what should be taught and how to best teach it. Often several children will be lumped together for some subjects (such as history, geography or science) and each child works on his own level within the chosen topic. This makes preparation easier for Mom and Dad! Home education works best when there is a schedule of events for the day and learning is accomplished in an orderly fashion. However, for home educators “school” is not over when the two hour time block is over. Parents find ways to make daily life a lesson that relates to the subjects currently at hand. Children learn fractions while they bake, colors while they sort laundry, geometry while they plant the garden, and subtraction as they tear out and pitch the unnecessary worksheets in their books. The pluses include an environment of learning, less preparation for the parent when several children can learn some subjects together, parental confidence in the direction of subjects and how they are learned, and that children will learn at a pace comfortable for them, as well as for the family. The draw backs are that diligent record keeping is necessary for each child to assess progress, and more time must be spent up front in considering each child, his learning style and ability to effectively plan and teach to the individual.
There is no one “right way” to teach your own children. Each family must pray and discern what God has for their unique children and situation. Some families may choose to home school, some may home educate. My hope is that this article will help you to think about what you want the journey of learning to look like in your family and begin to take steps to make that a reality, whether you are pregnant with your first or your fifth is in high school. Education is a cradle to grave process, and maybe beyond, what will that mean for your family? I challenge you to be intentional in daily life and not to pass up the teachable moments. God gave you your children because you are the perfect parents, and teachers, for them.