If you’re new to the idea of homeschooling, you probably have hundreds of questions racing through your brain.
- What exactly is homeschooling?
- Does homeschooling really work?
- Is homeschooling legal?
- Am I really qualified to teach my own child?
- What about socialization?
- Where do I get materials?
These questions and many others are asked by everyone who investigates home education. This website addresses basic questions and refers you to sources of information that will be helpful as you learn more about educating your children at home.
Getting Some Answers
Southeast Texas Homeschool Association has an informative handbook that will answer all of the above questions and then some.
Homeschool Oasis is another fabulous site for new homeschoolers. Veteran home educator, Barb Shelton, invites you to grab a cup of tea and join her for homeschooling help and refreshment. She does an excellent job guiding parents who are removing their children from a public school setting. Her site has over 100 articles and is especially helpful for those who desire to use a Lifestyle of Learning approach to educating their children.
A wonderful book to use during your preparation for homeschooling is Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson. This book is an excellent resource and Bible study for anyone considering home education. Also, Barbara Smith has written a beautiful book titled Teach Me Lord That I May Teach: What We Learned Homeschooling the Kids, that encourages us all to look to the Lord for wisdom and strength!
Also, be sure and visit the Is it Legal?, Does it Work?, and Why Homeschool? pages of this site.
When you start researching teaching your children at home, all of the information can be overwhelming. Don’t be discouraged. You are not alone. There are plenty of CHIP families willing to encourage and assist you as you begin this journey. You can read about some of their testimonies here.
Most importantly, if God has called you to this life, He will provide everything you need.
Be Encouraged by the Scriptures
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (NKJ)
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13 (NKJ)
Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. Joel 1:3 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJ)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11 (NKJV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile. Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)
This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it – the Lord is his name: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:2,3 (NIV)
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJ)
We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. Psalm 78:4 (NKJ)
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? Hebrews 12:9 (NKJ)
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 (NKJ)
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands. Proverbs 3:1 (NKJ)
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJ)
My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Proverbs 1:8 (NKJ)
He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20 (NKJ)