Getting Started With Catholic Homeschooling |
By Mary Becker GETTING STARTED WITH CATHOLIC HOMESCHOOLINGIf you are at this TORCH website you have chosen to instill in your children a distinct Catholic culture, and a faith to be passed on from generation to generation - the greatest gift you can give to your family. Do not be afraid, with the grace of God you will make it through each grade level, your children will be a boon to society, and you will give them the best college preparation. With home schooling it is not just about ‘what’ to think, but ‘how’ to think. More importantly, as members of TORCH, remember we are all praying and supporting each other spiritually. At the end of this article, I hope to list some books that helped me with getting started. It will not be an exhaustive list and if you would like to recommend others, or other opportunities, please let us know. In the area in which I live we are blessed with an extensive library system, and are able to request many books, rather than spend money purchasing them all. If you are in an area that has a large Catholic home school group, perhaps you will be able to put together a library. Prayer Life Prayer life is one of the great blessings that come from home schooling. No doubt, your and your family’s prayer life will increase. Whether you are starting out small with youngsters or older children, this will fortify your spiritual life. We are blessed to live within walking distance of the church, and daily Mass is offered at two times in the morning. We decided there is nothing more important than visiting with Our Lord each day. This is not within everyone’s grasp, but at a minimum, begin each day praying with your children the Morning Offering. Offer each day’s efforts to Him. As you begin teaching the Faith, you can’t help but get a deeper understanding of the Faith yourself. I learned much about my Catholic faith by explaining it to my children. Their faith is deepened by having questions that are on their minds answered. It is a great opportunity for all. Hopefully, you took the desire to home school to the Lord before starting up! Law in your State You will want to make sure that you are within the legal parameters of your state. http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/gettingstarted/a/legalusa.htm Each state is different. Along these lines, it is advised that you join the Home School Legal Defense Association. For the most part there is no problem, but this is like buying insurance. For the few that do run into complications, they will be covered. We recommend joining and there is a $20 discount for TORCH members. Still, keep up to date on the laws in your state, as well as pending legislation. Curricula Curricula are wide and varied. We do not recommend any particular curriculum, as you must review them to see what is the best fit for your family. Some families like to start out with a complete program with lesson plans, books, and record keeping done for you. There are some programs that will set a schedule out for your whole day, and others that allow you to ‘do it all.’ Here are some that other families have used: Catholic Heritage Curricula Kolbe Academy Mother of Divine Grace Our Lady of the Rosary Our Lady of Victory Regina Coeli Academy (online) Seton Home School There may be more out there, so do not feel limited by this list. Look at it as a “Catholic starting point.” You should feel free to go to various Catholic home school curriculum providers’ websites and see how they are set up. Some supply almost everything; complete with books, note books and papers. Some have lesson plans and you purchase the books. It is up to you to peruse and decide for your own family what will work best for your particular situation. Before you begin This would be a good time to set down your goals in writing. Be able to explain why you are home schooling and to express yourself clearly. Share this with the children, so that they, too, can understand and explain your reasoning. You will probably be getting many questions, if you haven’t already. Please try to make it a positive statement. (Giving glory to God, bringing your children closer to Christ, the ability to take vacation any time you choose – make it a field trip J, to ensure that your children can spend time on the areas of study that you feel are important, you can’t beat the teacher to student ratio, …) Pray each morning to keep your goals, this will help you to have them in mind when the going gets tough, and it will. Home Schooling is Full Time If you are not willing to dedicate yourself to this effort completely, this may not be the right choice for you. Your life will have to revolve around your home school efforts. How your home is arranged matters. Where teaching will take place, a place to keep the books and supplies needs to be taken into account. Home schooling is a lifestyle, whether it is desks, the dining room table, or family room. Will you be putting maps on the wall? Their best papers can go up. Science experiments in the kitchen or garage. What about music? We were able to take Suzuki Violin lessons during the day (one of those home school benefits). People may call you during the day to talk, or they may think now that you are home you will be able to help them run errands …you get the picture. You must learn to say “no.” Emergencies are the exception to the rule. But your home school should never take ‘back burner.’ This is your children’s education. Let them know, show them, that it is of utmost importance. Not cleaning the house or running errands! (That is not to say that they cannot help out with chores, in between classes or as your schedule permits – school first and foremost). Catholic Clubs I will probably need some help listing all the Clubs, but again here is a beginning list: K4J otherwise known as Kids for Jesus Little Flowers Club Blue Knights ConQuest Challenge Christian Life If you are looking for a specific club in your area, check their websites. Also you can email this website to find out recommendations from other home schooling moms. We are looking to get the parents blog going this year. TORCH Chapter When possible, join or start a TORCH Chapter in your area. It is terrific to have a group of moms that can get together once a month to have a ‘Mom’s Night Out” to pray, to talk, to plan … we need this opportunity for our Catholic Home School culture. Perhaps at the beginning of the year get together and plan field trips for the year (Botanical Gardens, Museums, Basilicas, Mary Shrines, or visiting various churches in your area …). Additionally It is recommended that we go on a weekend retreat, at least once a year. There are many wonderful retreats available, such as retreats offered by Miles Christi (Ignatian retreats) or Legion of Christ priests (Ignatian retreats as well, with emphasis on spreading the Kingdom of Christ on Earth). Check with your Diocese and see when they offer a men’s or women’s retreat. It will rejuvenate you and get you back on track There are other decisions that will need to be made as you go along: strict schedule or relaxed, study all together or separate rooms… But many of these things you will decide as you go along and, again, depending on what works best for your family. Hopefully this gives you an idea of what to look forward to. Remember, your sisters in Christ are always here for you, albeit through the internet and prayer. Do not hesitate to write and ask questions. Let us know what else you would like to see on this page. God bless, Mary Becker Posted: 2009-08-06 |
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