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Public education has done what all government does: complicate education. It’s really not that hard, and homeschoolers have immense flexibility to make it fit easily into family life. That’s exactly why the title of my book is Anyone Can Homeschool.
(Listen to the podcast version here.)
The first step is to block out everything you know about public education. Pretend you never experienced it, or heard of it. It’s your main obstacle.
You left that system, so don’t worry about trying to recreate it.
Instead, ask yourself: what does a human need to learn? It’s almost as simple as those “three Rs” we’ve always heard about.
Let’s explore what those things are, and how to keep them simple:
How to read – reading is necessary for all other education. Find a solid phonics program. Start when they seem ready (that could be at three years old or seven years old!). If you start, and it’s a big struggle, back off for a few weeks or months, and then try again. Be patient and encouraging, watching your child for clues about readiness.
Meanwhile, read to them as much as possible, read with them, and provide fun books for them to read as they are able. Let them read simple, silly books, but also help them to find “that book” that really hooks them.
While you can use phonics workbooks, they are not 100% necessary. So, if you have a child who loves worksheets, by all means use them! But if your child doesn’t, just know that they can totally learn to read without all the busy work.
As they grow and mature, encourage them to keep reading. Provide quality materials (assign some of your choices, and give them freedom to choose, too). Take them to the library, book stores, or book sales. Keep them excited to find and collect entertaining and educational books.
At our house: I start with phonics, and only phonics, for “kindergarten.” This is what makes education simplified. You don’t have to have a full boxed curriculum for a 5-year-old. Teach them to read, and spend the rest of your “school time” reading fun books together. Play is important at this age, and so is living life.
My favorites: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, A Beka phonics, and a growing home library.
Related blog posts:
Mathematics – Every human needs basic math to function, long before they are adults. Parents – find a curriculum you can work with. Higher levels are not always as hard as we anticipate. But if you don’t want to attempt them, use an online class, a digital course, or a local tutor.
Don’t rush students. Mastery in math is KEY. A child must know addition before they can do subtraction. They must know both before they can do multiplication. They must know addition, subtraction, and multiplication to do division. Memorize those facts! It will make their lives easier.
Pro-tip: there are not 12 levels of math. There are about 8. So ask yourself what busy work public schools are making your kids do for 13 long years?
Apply it to the real world, because it is real-world education. In high school, decide what path your student might take, and choose math accordingly. College? Homemaker? Construction? Entrepreneur? Every student needs the basic functions in math, from addition through decimals and percents. The rest is individual (and I know this idea is controversial!).
Simplified math means pressing forward at the pace your student needs, and not focusing on the calendar or the grade level on the front cover of the book.
My favorite: Math-U-See.
Related Blog post: Delaying Math Instruction
Language Arts – In this society, a student who communicates well is going to easily stand out. Give your children the gift of good grammar, the ability to write, and the ability to speak clearly. A solid foundation in language arts isn’t just for future authors or journalists: it’s for everyone who wants to make a difference in this world.
- Writing a coherent social media post
- communicating to church members
- encouraging political engagement
- teaching a homeschool co-op class
- writing a resume
- asking for a raise
- blogging or vlogging
Proper spelling, basic grammar, and the tools for writing multiple kinds of reports and papers are a gift that too many students are deprived of today in exchange for fake passing grades and “fairness.”
You’ll discover that some kids natural writers, and some are not. However, everyone needs the tools to communicate effectively.
Simplified language arts: reading and copywork! Teach them to read and read to them daily. Copy anything and everything, and get consistent practice in spelling, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
My favorites: books, copywork, and Institute for Excellence in Writing materials like Structure and Style for Students + Fix-It Grammar.
Related blog posts:
- Homeschooling and all of the language arts
- Copy work and language arts
- Why I don’t use a spelling curriculum
- Teaching literature
History – You’ve all seen the man on the street videos. I’m not telling you anything new when I remind you how abhorrent history knowledge is today. So how do you simplify it?
Family style: let everyone learn one historical timeline together. History, geography, literature, the arts… all of them can be taught to one multi-aged group.
Make it fun: Hands on activities, related food, movies, costumes, field trips, good stories…all of these work great for teaching family-style, and fun activities break up the monotony of bookwork (for mom and the students!).
Make it relevant: You don’t need a history degree to be a great history teacher. When you see connections, make them for your kids! One way to do this is with timelines. Whether you choose a wall timeline, or a multi-page version in a notebook, organizing history lessons in a chronological manner makes the big picture accessible. Family history is another personal way to make history relevant. Whatever you know, add it to your lessons!
On that note, teach your state’s history alongside your American history. America has such a unique story, and so does each state. Make it make sense!
Make it easy to access: A home library makes this possible. Whether yours has 20 books or 2,000, giving your kids immediate access to great books will make it more natural to read and know history. If your space or funds are limited, get a good Atlas and some “coffee table books” on the time period you’re studying. Illustrations are important for drawing kids in.
Teach your children logic and how to spot bias and revision: A course in logic is very important (and if you, the parent, never had one, learn with your kids!). Primary sources are an absolute necessity, in my opinion. The diaries, journals, speeches, letters, chronicles, autobiographies, and firsthand accounts also help readers spot bias and revision. (This is what I grew up reading, and was easily able to spot made-up versions of history!)
Teach a biblical worldview of history: help your kids to understand humans, sin, and worldview.
Simplified: Don’t let “social studies” get in the way. Follow the story of history from creation to the present, and let each story, event, and person be the lesson.
My favorites: Mystery of History, tons of BOOKS, Drive Thru History, documentaries, historical fiction, good movies, Knowledge Keepers books
Related blog posts:
Science – science is the study of God’s amazing creation, and secondarily, the study of the men and women who invented things and made discoveries. It is also a natural apologetics curriculum.
Simplified:
- Elementary age – We don’t use a formal science curriculum at this stage. Instead, we enjoy nature, keep a stack of field guides handy, apply the book of Genesis to simple questions and discoveries, and read children’s books about nature and scientists.
- Middle and high school – Now is the time for formal curriculum to learn concepts, read about scientific discoveries, and do experiments. However, experiments are optional! You can also read about them or watch them on YouTube.
- Like I said, science and apologetics go hand-in-hand. We add to our curriculum with good books and videos by Answers in Genesis, Dr. Jason Lisle at Biblical Science Institute, Reasons for Hope, Institute for Creation Research, and others.
Don’t hide your children from other worldviews: equip them!
My favorites: good books, field guides, Berean Builders, The 101 Series
All of this should be built on a biblical worldview foundation. Each subject I addressed above can – and should – be taught with a biblical worldview. With your own daily bible study, and some of the excellent Christian curriculum resources available, you can do this!
Be a family, not a school. Simplify home education. Give your kids a childhood and a great foundation with streamlined methods and solid curriculum that doesn’t waste time or money.
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