Getting Started

Where Do I Start?
What Do I Need?
How Can I Provide Variety?
Do I Really Need Teacher's Manuals?

Here's Another Source

Welcome

Welcome to the Home School Helper Starter Edition. This section is designed to help those beginning their first year in home education. The staff at Bob Jones University Press hopes that you will have a rewarding experience teaching your children at home. We have attempted to address those issues which will interest you the most as a first-time home schooler.

The experienced staff at the Press are continually developing new products and services for home educators. We hope that we can help make your job of teaching your children easier and help provide your children with a thoroughly Christian education.

The Helper is a newsletter created to keep you abreast of the educational issues affecting your teaching. The Helper staff always welcomes suggestions for future articles.

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Where Do I Start?--Getting Organized

Finding time to accomplish everything, including housework, is one of the most difficult parts of home schooling. In fact, a lack of organizational skills is a major reason people stop home schooling. Being a good home educator means being a good organizer and planner. That does not mean that your house must be immaculate, nor does it mean that every detail of your life has to be scheduled. Rather, a good organizer has a plan and knows how to carry it out. He follows his schedule and yet is flexible enough to handle unexpected problems.

One way to become organized is to make lesson plans. From a practical standpoint, you want to plan ahead so that you do not find out the night before a lesson that you are missing some important supplies. Lesson plans take time initially, but in the long run they will save you time and streamline your work. If you do not have a plan, your children will make a plan for you. To avoid this problem, you need to make yearly, weekly, and daily plans.

First, sit down and design a plan for the coming year without your children around. This plan will encourage you to finish the curriculum in a year, and it will guarantee that you teach the seasonal lessons (such as Thanksgiving and Christmas) at the right time. Work your schedule around the seasonal lessons. If you have sick days or a hospitalization, you can adjust your schedule by teaching on Saturdays or doubling up lessons. However, make sure your children are mature enough to handle the extra load.

When making the yearly plan, write in pencil. Focus on the major areas of concern, and pace yourself. Find out how many days your state requires your children to be in school and plan accordingly.

Will you teach 9 months or 12 months? Sometimes satellite schools must follow the 9-month conventional school. When will you take breaks? Decide what is comfortable for your family. Do you want your children to take a break in the summer?

Next, write out your plan for each week. On Friday night skim what is coming next week. Avoid preparing on Saturdays, which are always busy, and on Sundays, which are filled with church activities. Determine how detailed you want your weekly plan. Look at the broad picture, considering the major objectives, concepts, activities, and materials. A good curriculum should summarize these for you. Often the easiest way to make your plans is to indicate right in your teacher's manual the lessons you want to cover. Keep in mind that some subjects such as math can be combined on some days, but you may need to slow down on such difficult concepts as money and time.

Double-check your materials. If you need to photocopy line masters, such as puppets and Bible illustrations, consider doing two weeks' worth of copying at one time.

Finally, make your daily lesson plans, but do not write them out in minute detail. Write directly in your teacher's manual what your objectives are for each day. Highlight the activities you will do, and mark out the ones you will omit. Also, indicate where you will go next. Keep the teacher's manual near you while you teach.

After you grow accustomed to the flow of the curriculum, you will be able to finish your daily preparations fairly quickly. You will find that some types of lessons follow a pattern. Science and Heritage Studies will usually alternate class days, but Math and English easily fall into a routine.

Of course, the curriculum you choose will have a great influence on your plans. Some want no curriculum at all. That is fine for those who are adept in all subject areas. But you do not want your child to be weak in subjects you may have found difficult in school (such as history). Most parents are wise to rely on professionals and adapt their material to the home school or use the materials specifically designed for the home setting. A good professional curriculum has a scope and sequence. It presents information and ideas in a logical order, building step by step. A good curriculum also weaves different subjects together; the facts are not left isolated from each other. You will want to supplement your curriculum with field trips and help from experienced friends, church members, or grandparents.

Remember that a plan will simplify your life tremendously. Without a plan you be going around helter-skelter, and so will your children. A few minutes spent daily, weekly, and yearly planning can mean a lifetime of rewards.

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What Do I Need?--A Home Educator's Toolbox

One of the advantages of home schooling is that your child's education can take place in a more relaxed environment than the typical classroom. Generally, however, you will want to provide a room or section of a room where much of your teaching can take place. As the teacher, you need a place to prepare, a place to study, in other words, a home base. You do not want to be distracted with piles of laundry or dirty dishes.

Preparing a special room includes taking the telephone off the hook once school begins or using an answering machine. If you do not have a spare room, then you can design another room so that is can easily make the transition to a school room when needed. Listed here is the basic equipment for a home school along with some ideas about acquiring it at little cost. Use your imagination and look for bargains in the classified ads, garage sales, and discount stores. You need things that are simply functional.

Desks The school room should include a child's desk that fits your child comfortably. You do not have to buy a conventional desk; you can use a toy desk or build one from concrete blocks and a piece of plywood. Be creative. Take your time to find a bargain.

Book Shelves Again, use your imagination if you do not already have book shelves. If you cannot build them, you can find inexpensive ones by shopping around.

Chalkboard You can save paper by letting the student practice exercises with chalk. You can also save some preparation time by creating teacher aids while you teach rather than the night before. You can make your own chalkboard by sanding a piece of Masonite or plywood and coating it with Ping-Pong table paint. Then sand lightly and season the board by chalking all over it several times. A damp washcloth makes a good eraser. On the back you will want to put pockets for letter cards when working on sounds. You can use remnant fabric or poster board for this.

Globe This is not essential, but it is very helpful for Science and Heritage Studies.

Map One of the most interesting maps for students is a relief map.

Tape Recorder Tape recordings are a major part of many curricula, not just music. You can also use the recorder to make your own tapes of your child's reading. With it you can keep a journal to prove that your child is progressing in reading.

Optional materials A VCR and a computer are helpful but not necessary. If you can afford only one or the other, get a computer. Educational software provides for more interaction with the child than a video tape does. Also, you can keep your records on the computer.

Pencils and pens Pencil stubs from the bottom of the drawer will cause your child to hold the pencil incorrectly and could cause poor penmanship. You need to make sure you get a regular full-sized writing instrument. You can also get pencils with rubber grips to help your child hold the pencil correctly.

Paper Buy a few reams of lined paper from a discount office supply store.

Art supplies Although they are expensive, don't cut corners. Math, Science, Heritage Studies--all of these subjects include a great many art activities. The minimum necessary supplies are scissors, crayons, and glue. Eventually you should try to buy construction paper, paints, and even pastel chalks. Having the right supplies will help your child learn to use the materials productively and perhaps bring out artistic ability.

Science and Math supplies Most of these are available in the home already--a button box, egg cartons, etc. A good curriculum will give you hints about possible substitutes for expensive equipment. You could also share the expense of some equipment with other home school families.

LibraryYou do not need much more at home than a Bible, a good dictionary, and perhaps a poetry anthology. Your child should also have access to a public library.

Bible Let the child have his very own Bible; young children greatly treasure them and carry them everywhere. Generally, you want to give them an unabridged version of the Bible you use. Simply explain language that they do not understand.

Dictionary An elementary dictionary will help your child learn to use a dictionary as well as provide definitions in language he can understand. One good option is Bob Jones University Press's Christian Student Dictionary. You will also want to have a dictionary for those words not covered in the elementary dictionary and for older children. Most standard dictionaries will be adequate. You can save money by purchasing a paperback dictionary.

Poetry anthology Helen Ferris's Favorite Poems is one of the best collections available. Many of the selections suggested by Bob Jones University Press's English curriculum can be found in this one source.

Additional enrichment Buy books that will satisfy your child's natural interests. It is a good idea for you to look through the books before your child does. Watch for objectionable pictures, language, and philosophies and deal appropriately with those elements.

Encyclopedia If you cannot afford a set, use the encyclopedia at the local library. Much of the scientific information will change on a regular basis, so using the library's set may be the best option. You will probably be making regular trips to the library anyway. Simply jot down questions as they arise, and save them for each trip. Be aware of the information your children get from encyclopedias, since they are typically very humanistic and anti-Christian.

Certainly you can make or purchase many other materials for the home school, but this list includes the essential items. Remember that materials do not have to be expensive. Do the best you can with the resources and talents available to you.

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How Can I Provide Variety?

Although special projects may seem like a great trouble, they are important in making the lessons interesting and in helping children apply principles and knowledge they have learned. Special projects help to tie the different subjects together as well as supplement them.

Reading projectsYou can buy many books on tape. Many children grow up listening to Mother Goose rhymes. But have you considered producing your own? Children love to hear their own voices and to critique their reading. Listening to themselves read on tape will improve their fluency and reading skills.

Choral reading is another interesting project, although you will be limited by the number of children you have. You and your children read a poem in musical fashion. Mark the passages that each person says solo and the passages that all say together. This project will build their language dynamics and their ability to color the words. You can tape-record it, too, trying numerous takes. Your children will correct their own pronunciation and rhythm.

Writing projects Reading well and writing well go together. Facility with language is important in any Christian ministry.

One important project is a story journal. Your children can create a story about almost anything. Start a journal the first day of school. Write stories and date them. One a week is enough. The first story may be difficult, because the children are unfamiliar with this kind of project and do not know how to do it. At first they will probably need much prompting. Usually you will want the children to dictate the story to you, because you will find that their thoughts flow more quickly if they are not hampered by the speed of their hands. Do not demand too much from young children. You cannot always even expect complete sentences. The first story by a kindergartner could be three short sentences. Longer sentences and words will come with time. At first, all you want is to get thoughts into words. Get him to use words. Eventually you might tape-record a journal and then let the child put it in written form. The recordings will become a wonderful memory device and proof of progress.

A missionary pen pal has numerous benefits. Many missionary kids are terribly lonely. All children love to receive a letter in the mail. Your children's writing practice can encourage others, build a friendship, and attune their hearts to the mission field.

A family Christmas program can be memorable and fun. Write it from scratch, or take a well-known story and apply it to your family. Perform it for grandparents and other family members. People with camcorders can tape it. Other children might perform it for a Sunday school class. Children learn most from joint projects with their parents. When producing the script, capitalize on each child's unique abilities, such as humor, art, or musical talent.

Science projects Collections are easier in a home school than in a conventional school. Find what clicks with your child. If students collect something that interests them, they will often press themselves to learn all types of facts. Rock collections can be used to make scratch tests, and minerals can be studied under a magnifying glass. Leaf collections show the different types of leaves, parasites, and food production. You can make photographic collections (the school year, the growth of a tree, etc.). If you live near a beach, shell collecting is fun. You can try to discover what kind of animal made the shell and whether the shell is usable by a hermit crab. Insect collections are also easy, and they can be kept in the garage (out of your sight!). One main objective is to avoid starting a collection you must purchase, such as baseball cards.

Many experiments will be listed in the science curriculum. You may be tempted to avoid experiments if you are not comfortable with science and the materials are hard to find. Make each one a unique event. Set aside a special time for the experiment, and let the older and younger children watch it together. You will also want to keep a record of some experiments to add to your school's credibility.

Heritage Studies projects Field trips bring Heritage Studies to life. Use the community to back up what you are doing. Begin school a week early, if you must, to have time for field trips. Check to see how many trips can be counted as school days. One of the ultimate field trips is a visit to Washington, D.C. If you go, prepare early, read books, and get a map. Your children will surprise you as they navigate for you on the highway and find important places. Your children's experiences will become pegs to hang history on. Some common places in your town will be interesting to your children--the fire station, post office, old houses, cemeteries. Cemeteries are especially exciting; you can find markers for people who have been lost at sea, people who have died in a plague, or the grave of a child. You can take some inscriptions home by making rubbings.

Time lines can help your children to relate events in history--your family tree, your own life, your children's lives (hospital visits, salvation, etc.). A time line of the presidents will give them a new perspective on how the life of each man was connected to events before and after his presidency.

Math projects The daily routine is filled with practical consumer math projects--comparison shopping at the grocery store, running a business, budgeting. Give your children their own budget early in life. When they get an allowance, give them three piggy banks--one for tithes, one for savings, and one for spending.

These are just a few of the projects that you can use in your teaching. Do not be afraid to use your imagination in developing new ideas for projects. They will provide your children with an excellent outlet for the knowledge they have gained through study and, in most cases, will increase their desire to learn.

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Do I Really Need Teacher's Manuals?

Many people consider teacher's manuals an unnecessary expense. "Any adult can multiply and divide. So why do I need a teacher's manual?" It may be true that most adults can do simple math, but how many can explain how to do it and why it is done a certain way? Or in teaching science, how many adults can explain to their children what causes thunder?

It is true that a teacher's manual can be expensive, but the expense is minimal considering the vast number of teacher's helps, such as background information, in-depth explanations, related activities, and step-by-step plans for organizing and teaching the lesson. A teacher's manual will also require a considerable amount of extra reading. This time spent in preparation, however, will benefit the teacher and ultimately the student, because a well-prepared teacher is the most effective teacher. Preparation time is never wasted time. In fact, by reading a concept, you will actually save yourself time. The research part of your job as teacher has been done for you by the authors.

You might ask, "Why the expensive teacher's manual? Why not the less expensive answer key?" Answer keys do not usually give the "hows" and "whys" of a concept. Teacher's manuals provide answers too, but they provide much more. They explain the strategy for introducing the questions and leading the student to the right answers; therefore, the educational goal is accomplished when the student discovers the correct answers. You, as teacher, must consider the question: "Do I want just correct answers from my child, or do I also want understanding?" A good manual guides you through the educational process of leading a student to understand and evaluate information.

"If the teacher is the key to learning, why do I need a teacher's manual?" If you are a successful home school teacher, you realize that you have many areas of responsibility. You motivate; you organize teaching time and materials effectively; you care about your student and the subject matter. But you must also be aware of a variety of teaching methods and approaches, and you need to be skilled in using them in the teaching process. It is your effectiveness as a teacher that is the key, and a manual can help in this area.

A teacher's manual is vitally important to the overall structure of each subject and to the development of your child. Four reasons for including teacher's manuals in your home school are as follows:

1. A good teacher's manual builds upon your ability as a teacher by giving practical guidance for using teaching skills. The teacher's manual will point the teacher in the right direction (for accomplishing learning goals) by establishing specific objectives. A good teacher's manual lists in a prominent place what the learning objectives for a given lesson are. Since you are individualizing this lesson to a particular child, you make a decision about which of these objectives you need to teach. After choosing the objectives, find the place in the lesson in which the concept is introduced, and secure the materials you need. Then decide on the approach you want to use, and you are ready to teach.
2. A good teacher's manual gives help in checking student comprehension. Learning takes place when a student not only supplies a correct answer but also understands the process by which he arrived at that answer. It is important that you use four levels of questions to evaluate accurately how much your child understands what he has read or studied. Literal questions seek only superficial answers and are easy to ask, but they lead to mere surface learning. Interpretative, critical, and appreciative questions help a student do more than just learn facts and information; they help him to draw conclusions, make judgments, and relate material to personal experience. When you provide your child with a broad base of understanding, the learning becomes more permanent. In a good teacher's manual, all four types of questions are given, and you need to choose only some of each type. The difficult work is done for you, and you are free to spend your time in discussion and evaluation with your child.
3. A good teacher's manual provides a variety of background information and suggestions for which you often do not have time to research or prepare. Suggested materials and supplementary ideas help you make the subject interesting. Scriptural references and Biblical principles provide help as you guide your child to apply what he has learned. Reproducible handouts and cutouts, student questions and activities, lesson scheduling, and correlation of one course with another are some of the valuable resources that manuals provide. Worktexts are a good source for practice, review, and reinforcement, but they are not teachers. Textbooks contain valuable course information; but even then, it is you as the teacher who makes that information come alive for your child. The teacher's manual puts the resources for more effective teaching into your hands.
4. A teacher's manual is reusable year after year, child after child. It rises in value as you gain experience using it. Many manuals have high resale value at home school conventions. Many support groups pool finances within their community and build a library of teacher's manuals. A teacher's manual has a wealth of experience and expertise contributed by educators who want to help you succeed as you teach your child.

Reprinted from Home School Helper. Used with permission of BJU Press. Please write hshelper@bjupress.com for permission to reproduce this article. All other correspondence (subscription requests, change of address, etc.) should be sent to bjup@bjupress.com.