Heart of the Matter’s Digital Magazine…
August 4, 2009 By 2 Comments
I once read a great article by Diane Flynn Keith entitled “7 Dumb Mistakes Smart People Make When They Homeschool and How to Avoid Them.” The article really struck home with me in areas where I’ve been, and some areas in which I insist on returning, despite my best efforts. For copyright’s sake, I won’t post the entire article here, but I will share her list of mistakes:
- Unrealistic expectations (or no expectations) regarding yearly or daily goals
- Over-scheduling & under-scheduling
- Ignoring child feedback
- Overspending
- Isolation
- Thinking you can do it all
- Striving to convince everyone else that they, too, should homeschool
Like I said, I could preach a sermon on all but #4, and I’m good enough to even get an offering on #s 2 and 6. The reason that I’ve not been guilty of overspending, at least not yet, is more of a function of the method I chose for homeschooling than any well thought-out savings strategy. One great benefit I’ve always enjoyed about Charlotte Mason’s principles is that there isn’t a lot of curriculum to buy if you play your cards right. I have used as a mantra that quote I heard early in my journey about ‘all you need to homeschool is a Bible, a math book, and a library card.’
As a curriculum developer and self-publisher, I am not condemning the idea of packaged curriculum. To be clear, bought curriculum is the unofficial, yet official mark of a homeschooler. Think about it: how wealthy would you be if you had a dollar for each time another homeschooling parent stopped and asked you, “So, what curriculum do you use?” Moreover, there are wonderful homeschool-friendly products available from parents who have traveled the same path and appreciate the roses, and thorns, along the journey. Where would the homeschooling movement be without this type of ingenuity?
For me personally, as I pray and do the homework regarding what to buy, I have a couple of homeschooling jewels that I often refer back to, especially at the year’s end when I’m beginning to think about the years to come.
Jewel #1 on buying curriculum: consider the following questions:
- Is this something I can teach without a curriculum?
- Am I attracted to the content, or the packaging and promotion?
- What do the reviews say about it?
- Finally, this one is my favorite: buy books instead of buying “stuff ”.
Jewel #2: get stuck in a rut.
Yes, that’s right. I said do get stuck in a rut. Although our routine has had some variance over the years—an extra workbook here or different teaching element there—we have stuck, pretty much, to the same schedule and basic subjects each year. So, without additional prep work (besides my own), our children know what is expected of them each day of the week. Unless we have an interruption (a field trip, travel, or unplanned event), they can sit and complete their work whether I’m around or not. Only once in our time at home was I too sick to get out of bed, but I was astonished and thrilled that the kids came downstairs and did everything they were supposed to do, only consulting me if they had questions.
Routines are just what the name suggests—routine, boring, and monotonous. I can, however, offer the carrot in front of this ho-hum horse. As a college instructor, I reach out to students each day who are having a less-than successful start in post-secondary studies. In some cases, they are simply not college material. However, in many cases, they are bright learners who could have an academically successful experience, but they lack the skills to be good students—discipline, time management, and concentration. As much as we hate to admit it, these are the roles we often play as parents in the homeschool.
So the question becomes, how do we help our kids transition to do these things themselves? Cutting them off cold turkey after 12th grade doesn’t work in many cases, so we have to create an environment for certain habits to form. Moreover, those habits must form in us first. We can’t lead where we aren’t willing to go; how dare we expect children who can manage themselves when we present ourselves as flighty and undisciplined. School can still be filled with love and laughter, but think about and certainly pray about making it boring enough for your children to learn to discipline and manage their lives.
Again, these nuggets have been invaluable for me as we progress through the years. Prayerfully, they will bless you, too.
Belinda Bullard is a wife and homeschooling mother of three, Belinda is an author and the owner of A Blessed Heritage Educational Resources, a literature-based history curriculum featuring African-American presence in history, as well as the contributions of other races to American history. A chemical engineer by formal education, she also serves as adjunct faculty for college distance learning programs.
June 19, 2009 By 11 Comments
June is the time of year when many local libraries and other bookstores offer Summer Reading Programs. If school is out for summer in your house, these programs can put some oomph and education into your lazy summer days. If you happen to be a year-round homeschooler (like yours truly), it’s also a great way to add a little spice and motivation to your school day!
My boys registered with our local library’s program yesterday and have already been able to mark off 2 hours of reading on their forms. Once they reach 10 hours of reading (either reading by themselves, to a sibling or even listening to an audio book), they will be able to attend a special pizza party at the end of July. They also receive prizes like a free book, kid’s meal at a local restaurant and even admission to a skating rink.
To help you get started in this exciting reading adventure, here is a list of Summer Reading Programs that may be in your area. Be sure to check out the details and rules of your particular reading program as they usually require registration. Also, they may require a certain number of books to be read rather than reading for a particular length of time. If there are any Programs that I might have missed, please let me know so l can add them to the list. And don’t forget to check your local public library!
Fazoli’s Friendly Reader Program
Half Price Books and Cici’s Pizza
Multiplex/Showcase Cinema’s Bookworm Wednesdays
Marsha is proud to be the Mrs. to David for over 12 years. They have been homeschooling their rowdy boys in the Lone Star State for the past 5 years. When she’s feeling like a slacker, you can find her drinking coffee, reading a book and writing at her blog — and sometimes all at the same time! You can find Marsha at Our Homeschool and Other Such Happenings.
June 18, 2009 By 9 Comments
Oh those summer days! What shall we do?
Well Heart of the Matter is not short on ideas for summer fun!
Our contributors have created an e-book that is jam packed with ideas to keep you and those kiddos busy for the duration of the summer months. Some bring family closer. Some give the kids one on one time but all are fun and have amazing growth and learning potential. Try them and let us know how much your family enjoyed them. From time to time we will share those stories on Heart of the Matter!
And we’d like to give you a copy for free, just for subscribing to our newsletter! So enter your name and email address into the form on the top of our sidebar, confirm your subscription, and then you’ll automatically receive your e-book within a day or two. If you are already subscribed to our newsletter, you will receive your free e-book sometime on Friday, June 19.
May 22, 2009 By 1 Comment
This is the time of year that excitement starts mounting. The winter doldrums are gone, spring has sprung, the school year is almost over (and the kids actually learned something this year- phew!), and the homeschool conference is coming up next month. Woo-hoo!
Sometimes I think I enjoy my homeschool planning waaayyyy more than I should. The excitement I get from getting out The Well-Trained Mind, the Rainbow Resource catalog, the year’s homeschool magazines, Home Learning Year by Year and sitting for hours on end with thoughts of the perfect school year we’ll have next year may be a bit excessive. But I’m sure I’m not alone. (Right?)
This is the-grass-will-be-greener-next-year time; the I’m-sure-we’ll-get-to-that-next-year time; the thank-goodness-the-year-is-over-and-I-didn’t-ruin-them time.
Can I get an “Amen”?
By July I will have a list of resources, topics, field trips, books, websites, “National Whatever Month/Week/Day” schedules, and a whole host of other things. I will have the best of intentions. I will plan to do every single thing on my list. I will be highly motivated and have the utmost confidence that my children will also be highly motivated come August. They will be bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and rosy-cheeked. They will be unable to stand the waiting and will beg to begin the wonderfully organized projects and studies that I have so lovingly planned.
But of course, as it says on the cereal box, Contents May Settle.
The full schedule I make for myself and my children is an ideal that can’t be realized. The vast amount of curricula, resources, and materials that I drool over while thinking “That is definitely going on the list!” makes it impossible to realistically implement them all. While the excitement of the possibilities can lead us into the school year, eventually some things will have to go. Important things will stand the test, priorities will be readjusted, and inevitably the contents of the “box” may appear less than before.
So what is important in our homeschool come October? What has stood the test and proven itself worthy of our time and attention?
• Reading together- by far, this is the way we spend the bulk of our learning time. I have found that providing good quality literature, frequent trips to the library, reading aloud on the couch every day, and taking dictation excerpts and dictionary work from our book choices can provide nearly all of the language arts that we need. We read history and science books, biographies, poetry, classics, children’s bible stories, picture books…the list goes on and on.
• Geography- this year the US, next year the world. Games, atlases, maps all have their place.• Good quality math programs- math is one of those things that requires repetition on a daily basis. Sometimes the repetition takes the form of a game, sometimes 5 problems in a lesson, sometimes a whole worksheet, but either way when the settling happens, math stays.
• Unstructured family play time- lots of educational games, pretend play activities, building materials and puzzles are available and we allow time for them to be used.
• Discussion- we talk a lot about what we’re learning; we make connections between a history read aloud and what our government is up to now. We play word games in the car, make up songs, pray, quote bible verses, tell jokes. We enjoy our children and what they have to say!
If the mood strikes us we’ll do a project, experiment, puppet show, or art lesson. Many times all of these make their way into our week, sometimes none. But the job we have as teachers of our children isn’t to schedule every “good” thing into our schooling, but to create learners, readers, questioners, and enthusiastic contributors to God’s world.
So if the contents begin to settle, let them. You’ll then be able to fit what really matters. And you’ll keep your sanity in the process.
Christine is a homeschooling mom of four, three boys and a girl ranging in age from infant to 7 years. A musician by trade, she desires to help other homeschoolers find the beauty and simplicity in teaching the arts to their children. Visit her blog at Fruit in Season.
May 10, 2009 By 2 Comments
I’m excited to bring forth what I think is a great idea and I hope many of you will participate. The more the merrier! Heart of the Matter is going to host the first used book/curriculum sale online (as far as I know). The sale will go from May 11-15th.
Please visit this post for more details on the book sale. If you have used curriculum or books to sell, please add your name and blog link to Mr. Linky below. Otherwise, have fun shopping!!
If you have any questions, please contact Susan at susan@heartofthemattermagazine.com
May 6, 2009 By
One of the biggest mistakes I made at my first homeschool convention was heading into a football field sized room full of used books for sale without a plan. Can you feel where I am headed? Can you guess what horrible mistake I made?
Photo Credit: Darcy LWM3B
Fortunately, I did have a spending cash limit but the sad thing was I bought a lot of great books that were not on my list for that year and in my excitement I had spent the money that should have been used on what we really needed for that year. Now, five years later I would like to share some of my favorite tips to help prepare you to spend your money wisely, without a lot of stress, while getting the most out of your homeschool convention experience.
Plan and Prepare for the Best
Start now by creating a spreadsheet for each child that has every subject you need and want to cover. Under each subject list the items that you plan to purchase for that category including the price. If you are unsure of what you will use, then make a running list of the items you want to explore for that subject. Conventions are a great place to compare resources and research what will work best for your family. There is nothing like holding a book in your hand and flipping through the pages to give you an honest feel for what that resource is really like. If you have a general plan before you head to the book mecca, you will be less likely to spend your money on things you really don’t need.
Make Hubby your Spending Ally, not your Adversary
There is nothing more discouraging to an excited homeschooling mom then to hear her husband say, “You spent how much?!!!” as you walk through the door. A husband needs to know the bottom line before you start spending money. To avoid this happening in your home, make a spreadsheet for each child showing each subject. Under each subject list the items that have to be purchased with the suggested price. Decide together how and when you want to purchase these items.
Transform Your Scoffing Spouse into a Homeschool Cheerleader
Do you have a spouse who is still questioning the validity of your joint decision to Homeschool? Then by all means find a way to take them with you! This is one of the best things a new homeschool family can do. Some spouses do not realize how vast the homeschooling community is, nor do they grasp the potential it can hold for their children. They usually have not had the chance to soak in all of the info that we have and there is nothing like walking into a convention and being startled by the fact that there are thousands of other families there. They suddenly realize you are not the only family who has chosen to Homeschool. After attending his first convention, my husband went from being my faithful supporter to being an adamant pro-homeschooling cheerleader. It enhanced his perspective and gave him the information he needed to become totally committed to our decision. It makes a huge difference when both spouses are equally committed to the task of homeschooling.
My husband is always telling me, “Babes, we don’t have a money tree growing in the back yard.” Well ,we may not have a money tree, but there are ways to beef up your wallet with some extra spending cash. Somehow I have always found a way when there wasn’t one, when I really knew I needed something we couldn’t afford. Here are some things I will gladly admit I have done:
- Have a Yard Sale
- Recycle and Sell Your Curriculum
- Exchange those Baby Items for Cash – Most big cities have used baby boutiques that will gladly give you immediate cash for your nice baby through toddler items.
- Remind the Grandparents – Let them know what you are doing. They may just bless you with some extra cash that can help you buy that expensive writing program you have always wanted.
Put a Padlock on Your Wallet
Warning! Warning! Be careful! The atmosphere of a Homeschool Convention has a way of making us want to overspend and buy too much all at once. Decide before you go what your budget will be. If you have that spreadsheet ready, it will be easy to see what you will need to buy and how much that it will cost. Decide now how you will attack your plan. Can you afford it all today or do you need to pace your spending? Most families find it necessary to spread their spending out over a period of time rather than purchasing it all in one day. By creating your spreadsheet and then making a planned budget before you go, will ensure that you invest your money wisely.
When You Can’t Buy It All
Sometimes we have to make hard choices. If you have to spread your purchases out, consider buying your history and science first. These two subjects tend to need more planning and take more time to bring together. If you buy them first, you can ensure that you will have the time necessary to sit and plan out your year in a way that is best for your family. I have also found it helpful to bring a small notebook so that you can make a list of the things to buy later that you didn’t plan for.
Don’t Stop to Smell the Flowers
It is so easy to walk into a convention and get sucked in and before you know it they are announcing it’s closing time and you still haven’t made it to that one place yet. To avoid this happening to you, go ahead and download a vendor map before you go.
Most conventions have a map you can download and print that tells you where the vendors will be. It’s important to print this off before you go and highlight the ones you don’t want to miss. This really comes in handy when you are pressed for time and it’s convenient to be able to quickly locate them, especially when you are in a hurry.
Plan for Inspiration
One of my favorite resources available at a homeschooling convention is the speakers. No matter how many years you have homeschooled we all can use the inspiration and encouragement that comes from the voice of experience. Print off your list of speakers and make it a point to be encouraged.
Plan to Buy the CDs
More often than not conventions will have multiple speakers speaking simultaneously. Don’t worry! Pick your favorite and then buy the CDs of the ones you missed. You can help your pocketbook by splitting the cost with a friend.
My Best Advice
Don’t be afraid of buying mistakes. It is going to happen. You can count on it. As your homeschooling journey continues, what you base your decisions on will morph. You will gradually have a better understanding of what works for your family and what does not. You are going to have those moments when you suddenly realize that what Suzie raved about on the phone for over an hour does not fit your family’s needs. And you will come to understand that it’s okay.
Give Us Your Feedback
- What tips can you share that have helped you?
- How do you prepare for a homeschooling convention?
- What’s a mistake that you have made that others can learn from?
- How has going to a homeschooling convention helped you?
Beth discovered how fun learning can be when she began homeschooling in 2003. She considers homeschooling to be a treasured blessing.On the path with her are her 2 boys and husband John, who is her biggest supporter and fan. Somehow she has enabled her frog loving outdoor boys to love tough subjects like Latin, Writing and Grammar. (She is not kidding!) Now if she could only get them to eat all their vegetables. Beth loves capturing life’s precious moments with her camera and decorating them with Photoshop. You can visit her blog at Pages of Our Life.
April 27, 2009 By 20 Comments
It’s getting to be that time of year. I don’t know about you, but my mind is having a hard time staying focused on finishing up this year of school. I’m already jumping ahead into fall when I can bring out all our new books. Of course I don’t have them yet. Right now I am evaluating what has worked this year and what hasn’t. I’m figuring out what we will need for the new grades ahead and what each child specifically needs to improve their skills.
This means out with the old and in with the new. I have books on my shelf that worked for one child but not the next, and books that didn’t work for any of them. I think it is time to clear some stuff out to make room on my shelf.
I’m excited to bring forth what I think is a great idea and I hope many of you will participate. The more the merrier! Heart of the Matter is going to host the first used book/curriculum sale online (as far as I know). There will be several steps involved and I hope to make them clear but please leave a comment if you have question. The sale will go from May 11-15th. This should give people time to get their books ready and posted by then, and they will have a week to shop and sell. You may post your books on your blog anytime during that week.
- Collect your books you want to sell.
- Take photos of them.
- Post photos of books with a brief description/condition with the price you would like for them.
- Add a Paypal button for each book.
- Come to Heart of the Matter and leave the url for the post in Mr. Linky on May 11th.
- Make sure to shop on other blogs for books you might need.
- Blog about the book sale so that word gets around.
- Post a button on your blog.
Paypal is the easiest way to make payments and receive money from buyers. If you do not have a Paypal account I recommend you set one up. It is quick and easy, but does take about 3 or 4 days for it to be completely set up.
When you log in to your Paypal account select the Merchant Services tab at the top. Steps one, two and three will walk you through making a buy now button for your item. Copy and paste the code in your text box on your blog. Make a separate button for each item. This will take some time depending on how many items you have to sell.
You may group your books in a lot. Just make sure to note what books come in that lot and then a price for the whole lot. You can add a shipping amount when you make the button or you can include shipping in your asking price.
Heart of the Matter is not responsible for any disputes that may arise between book seller and buyer. You sell and buy at your own risk. We trust that those who participate will do so with integrity by accurately describing material and shipping in a timely manner.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan at susan@heartofthemattermagazine.com
Susan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three daughters, two cats and a dog. She has been homeschooling for 7 years. She started in the beginning and plans to homeschool through highschool. Each year has been an incredible learning experience for her. She is convinced that she has learned far more than her students. When not teaching or taking care of the home Susan enjoys reading, crafting, which may include sewing, crocheting, or jewelry making, and drinking various coffee and tea drinks. Susan writes about her journey at From the Narrows.
April 7, 2009 By 4 Comments
Mary McLeod Bethune says:
‘On October 3, 1904, I opened the doors of my school, with an enrollment of five little girls…whose parents paid me fifty cents’ weekly tuition…I considered cash money as the smallest part of my resources. I had faith in a living God, faith in myself, and a desire to serve…That’s how the Bethune-Cookman college campus started.’
Though the Lord may not have placed in any of us the desire, much less the anointing, to begin a college in our homes, I believe with my whole heart that we decide to homeschool with similar ideals – and not much else. Our traditional academic environments then lead us to, inevitably and sometimes too quickly, to curriculum choices.
Without a doubt, from the moment you began to think about homeschooling, you had visions of school days dancing in your head. Are your “students” in desks for 7-8 hours each day? Are they perusing through textbook after textbook? The reality is that it takes a period of readjustment for us as parents to encompass all that homeschool can be. You must also factor in helping our children adjust if they have spent time in traditional academic environments. Even if your child has never seen the inside of a classroom, he or she may have an expectation based upon conversations with friends or relatives.
There is nothing wrong with a traditional approach to home education, if that is your preference. Too often, we enter into a conventional approach and then dive into major curriculum expenditures because that is all we know. The facts are that your homeschool, within state-specific boundaries, can look as much or as little like a traditional school as you and your “student(s)” find effective. I will offer this bit of wisdom: before you spend money on education for your children, invest in your own education.
One of my favorite passages of scripture is Jeremiah 29:9-11 in which that Lord encourages us that He has plans for us, “plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future.” I am reminded when I look at our children that, in the same spirit of our heavenly Father, we desire to give our children a hope and a future. You know the plans that you have for your children, and after praying about homeschooling, there is no better starting point than to begin to write those plans.
It may be clear to us that we need to establish yearly goals for our students, but what about setting goals for yourself and for your school? Knowing what you want your children to accomplish long-term, and knowing what you want to accomplish as a parent/ home educator will shape and define your school environment as much as any curriculum decision. I cannot stress this enough: invest in your own education and understanding before you take on the overwhelming task of curriculum decisions.
There are, from my perspective, two sets of goals that are critical to your homeschooling vision. The first has to deal with what you want your children to be able to do after they finish school. You may be able to quickly list “go to college” or “get a job,” but how about the more intangible goals that relate to what habits we teach each day? When we really thought this through, we began to list goals such as these:
- As adults, we want our children to be our friends.
- We want our children to marry spouses that know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
- Our children will be independent thinkers (i.e. plan “A” should not always be to call Mom and Dad!) .
These were the activities that set the backdrop for our curriculum choices, and in many cases, the decision not to choose a traditional textbook/workbook approach. We instead began to introduce great heroes of our past and present to our children, in most cases, before they were heroes. Words like the ones above allow children reflect on the thoughts of those who have immortalized themselves with what must have been small, but selfless, acts at the time. More importantly, these words plant seeds of potential greatness within a child as they see history makers, not as unreachable superhumans, but as boys and girls who enjoyed everyday life and used it to spark greatness.
First and foremost, however, we chose tools (emphasis mine) based upon maximizing the opportunities for God to visit us and minister to our family right there at the kitchen table. Nothing is more important than His presence. Even if we don’t get to everything I have planned, we take time to understand the price that was paid for our lives, and to know the one who paid that price. It is not enough that our children have “head knowledge” about Jesus; they need to know Him in a real way.
I have one final thought regarding what we teach and what tools we use to help us. When I am not teaching our own three blessings, I am privileged to teach college students. In many cases, they are not traditionally-aged college kids, but adult learners who could not or did not take advantage of the benefit of a college education earlier in life. Much of my work with them involves exposure to introductory concepts in the world of management and leadership. Over the years, these are the lessons I’ve learned:
- God teaches us love; the world teaches us tolerance.
- God teaches us humility; the world teaches us arrogance.
- God teaches us to prefer others over ourselves; the world teaches us to love ourselves over others.
- God introduces us to Jesus and Christianity; the world introduces us to religion and spirituality.
- As an educator, I fully recognize that our children may go off to college and not have a believer to teach them. However, I stay mindful with all my students, whether they were born of my womb or not, that teaching for the sake of sheer knowledge is empty without a God-given revelation of how to use that knowledge to change this world for the better cause of Christ Jesus. The presence of God and the presence of written goals are instrumental tools in finding the right curriculum. But before rushing to the nearest vendor, rush to a Bible, a pen, and paper. You will not regret it.
Check out my article on page 24 of the funky flipbook edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine.
Belinda Bullard is a wife and homeschooling mother of three, Belinda is an author and the owner of A Blessed Heritage Educational Resources, a literature-based history curriculum featuring African-American presence in history, as well as the contributions of other races to American history. A chemical engineer by formal education, she also serves as adjunct faculty for college distance learning programs.
April 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Kids learn best by doing and kids love to make money!
All of a sudden, math takes on new meaning when it’s calculating profits!
Writing is fun when it’s creating your own newsletters, brochures, and blogs!
Experienced homeschool families know that motivation is critical in helping our children learn what they need to learn. They also know that the best way to teach is by example, so starting and running a family business can be an ideal way to teach your children a multitude of skills, including:
- Practical living
- Math, especially as it relates to budgeting and finance
- English
- Social skills
- Leadership qualities
- Problem solving abilities
In addition, developing an “entrepreneurial mindset” will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Starting a home business is also an excellent family project and you can earn extra money for fun curriculum and field trips, or maybe even college tuition!
Some of my fondest childhood memories are the summer days I spent in my grandparent’s little corner grocery store. Hiding in the maze of boxes in the storage room, watching my grandma make ham salad and sausage by hand, and sliding down the roller belt that took the boxes to the basement still brings joy to my heart. Unfortunately, it was long after my Grandpa’s passing that I realized the amazing feat of starting a business like that at the beginning of the depression. It had provided very well for them throughout retirement, and I never gave it a second thought growing up.
My mother started a rubber stamp company at our kitchen table from a machine she ordered from the back of a Popular Mechanics magazine. I was only 12 going on 18, so it was more of an inconvenience for me because I couldn’t spend countless hours on the phone since a customer might call (no call waiting in those days!). Nine years later, when my father suddenly passed away, that business supported my mother and brother comfortably and also provided well for her retirement.
Absorbing more than I realized while growing up, it came natural to see business opportunities around every corner. As an adult, I found that not everyone thinks that way. In a country where job stability is becoming a historical concept, I discovered that the ability to analyze where your skills can serve a need in the marketplace is priceless. Public schooled all my life, I can honestly say the lessons I learned watching my grandparents and parents run businesses taught me much more than high school and college combined.
How do I know if my child has an “Entrepreneurial Mind?”
Growing up, I had no aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur. despite having a dozen or more money-making adventures as a child. I’m sure you’ve seen many of the “Are YOU An Entrepreneur?” quizzes and standards that are put forth as qualities an entrepreneur should possess. I used to agree with many of them until I realized that having an entrepreneurial mindset is a skill that every child can and should learn. Does a child need to become a mathematician to learn math? Or become a writer to learn to write? In the same way, learning the basics and principles of becoming an entrepreneur can serve anyone throughout his or her life.
Many of you have read John Taylor Gatto’s famous book, Dumbing Us Down, exposing the motives of the public school system to essentially produce enough worker bees for corporate America. That may seem like a harsh summation of a radical theory, but remember, Mr. Gatto was an award-winning teacher in New York City’s public schools for almost thirty years when he wrote it. Teaching your children how to start a business doesn’t require a professional entrepreneur any more than teaching math requires becoming a mathematician. It simply gives him the tools he needs to develop the gifts and abilities God has given him. In the same way math teaches methods to solve problems, thinking entrepreneurially teaches methods to solve problems in the real world.
Do You Know Someone Like This?
This isn’t to say that some children aren’t born entrepreneurs! If your child is always starting little businesses like lemonade stands, you probably already know he has the entrepreneurial gene. These are the kids that make it obvious they’re bound for their own business someday, and usually have a very clear vision of how they want to get there. Giving them ways to express this passion in school projects is often the tipping point between enduring and enjoying their school years.
In contrast, entrepreneurs often lie dormant for a lifetime, but not without a gnawing desire to have their own business. Lacking the confidence to take the steps necessary is often due to an inadequate understanding of basic business principles or simply having no idea where to start.
Then there are the chronic business starters, who never seem to quite make it. Armed with the “I can do anything I set my mind to” mentality of the baby boomer era, they forge forward without knowing the essentials of success in business. It’s like going to war without equipment or training. Sure you’re there, but it’s not a pretty sight.
Last, but not least, there are the entrepreneur-wanna-be’s that have done the research, know more than they need to start, but still never move forward. Why? Fear. It’s because they have read too much, know the statistics of business failures, and just can’t seem to bear to cross the line between planning and doing. Fear is conquered by facing it, and if perhaps if they had been given opportunity to experiment and learn in a safe arena as a child, without the pressures of a family and everyday life, it might have made a difference.
Homeschooling with Purpose
The beauty of homeschool is having the freedom to shape your children’s education around your values and the uniqueness of the individual. While entrepreneurialism will serve your children well, what if they don’t want to learn how to start their own business? How many kids go kicking and screaming to their first music lesson only to discover music as a love of their life? My second son wasn’t interested in math whatsoever, until he discovered it was a way to figure profits in his business. Knowing how to start a business can be applied to ANY vocation, and may not be their major, but then again, it may be! There are definite aptitudes and qualities a person should possess as a lifestyle entrepreneur, but anyone can learn how to successfully start a business to simply market their skills.
Two Common Misconceptions
There are two common misconceptions about starting a small business. The first one is that starting a business is difficult. And the second is that it’s very simple. In a sense, both ideas are correct, it is relatively simple for anyone to start a business, but it’s difficult to make it work. This is why we believe entrepreneurship should be a part of every high school curriculum. Knowing exactly what it takes to start and successfully run a business gives confidence and the tools necessary to make it work. The reason over one half of new businesses fail within the first four years is usually lack of knowledge. It’s really not surprising that many new entrepreneurs go into business without knowing some of the most important business and financial basics. The ocean of resources online is a great value, but it’s like winning a 5 minute shopping spree in a giant warehouse. It’s a terrific opportunity, but where do you start?
A “start a business class” as part of your child’s high school curriculum can serve as at least one elective credit towards graduation, as well as open doors to new interests your child didn’t even know he/she had. The traditional textbook business course will always have its purpose, but is very different from what it takes to teach the entrepreneurial mindset. Gearing your course around a real business venture is always a fun way to do this, but the extra money is nice, too! Running a documented business during high school also translates into scholarship dollars as many universities realize the value of and adopt entrepreneurial programs and majors.
How does teaching business fit into training our children to serve in the Kingdom of God?
Thankfully, the “business as mission” movement is changing the way business is viewed by the church. Running a successful business is more than just a way to fund missionaries to spread the gospel, but is becoming a coveted skill set needed to start businesses in areas where community ministry is the goal. Integrity as a business owner and employer in poverty stricken areas can minister to the unreached at their deepest need. This mode of ministry is seeing unprecedented success, and there is a multitude of ways that an entrepreneur can serve in this capacity, both here and abroad. Marketing goods manufactured at one of these “Kingdom Companies” here in the US is one obvious way you could help. To learn more about this, just Google “business as missions” and you will have enough reading to keep you busy for months! You can find a list of the top 25 books on Business as Missions at – http://www.businessasmissionnetwork.com/2007/07/top-25-business-as-mission-books.html
Whether taught as one class or incorporated as a high school major, entrepreneurial skills will always be useful. In addition to earning money for college expenses, running a business opens the door for a multitude of scholarships! Your child may not be interested in having a business right now, but as we all know from personal experience, things change. Entrepreneurial skills can serve them at any stage of life, as well as give them a confidence they never knew they had. Involve them in a family business and they will ‘catch’ many more of your values than you could ever ‘teach’.
Next issue we’ll cover how you can get started teaching the ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ to any age.
Check out my article on page 14 of the funky flipbook edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine.
Bob & Debbie Maubach live in middle T and have been homeschooling for 20 years. With three of four of their ‘entrepreneurs’ graduated (all homeschooled, of course!), they are now spending more time helping other homeschoolers make home business a fun and profitable part of their homeschool. You can read more about them at their website, www.Homeschool-Entrepreneur.com.
Homeschool-Entrepreneur.com is also developing a directory of businesses started by homeschoolers. If you would like your business to be included free of charge, email us at directory@homeschool-entrepreneur.com and mention you saw us in Heart of the Matter Magazine.
What You Are Saying