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Discipleship Based, Relational
Home-Based-Learning
Susan Priolo, Exploring Approaches to Home Education Seminar, Adelaide 2008
"Kerugma" (http://kerugma.net) is my attempt to show how I study the Bible and teach these study methods to my children. Using it as a guide you will learn valuable study methods that will equip you and your children for a lifetime of study.
The Bible is a window into our own soul and heart so that we can understand our selves, our needs. God spiritually feeds us through the word. The Bible instructs us as to salvation, forgiveness, how to live, how to please God. It is His story but it isn't just history. It does more than tell us facts and figures and stories...it tells us WHY we are here on earth and where we are going. Many other books can point to God but only this book shows us what God is like. Other books are helpful and beneficial, encouraging, thrilling, informative, entertaining, comforting and beneficial in other ways but only God's word is life! This book alone can give a glimpse into the mind of God...give us a perspective of eternity.
Yet we don't have this book by accident or chance. God chose to give us this book as the primary means by which he speaks to us. The Bible is of utmost importance to the believer although it isn't a book to be studied as one would a science textbook for it is more than facts and figures or formulas. It is the very source of life! Just as the body needs to be physically nourished by good food, so our heart and mind needs sustenance. It is not simply the words in this book that satisfy the hunger in our soul rather it is God Himself. Just as daily exercise is necessary for a healthy body, so is daily exercising of the mind. What better to nourish the mind on than the message of God?
Rather than start with a full curriculum and then attempt to use the Bible to fill in any gaps, or cover Bible study as though it is just another subject, we can start with the Bible and move forward from there, to learn who God is, what He has done and what He requires.
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone
who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
(2 Tim. 3:16-17)
IDENTITY DIRECTED LEARNING AT HOME
Identity Directed home-based learning goes hand in hand with a Bible Based, Christ Centred approach. It simply means to teach the child with a view to his/her God given strengths, weaknesses, interest, passions, and talents. their natural bents.
Recognise God's Call
Firstly, it's important to recognise that God has put you, the parent, as the responsible authority in the lives of your children. Remember also that when God calls, He also enables! If God has a plan and a purpose for you as well as your child (and He does!), the best way to find out about that plan is to learn more about Him and His ways. Look at Isaiah 55:8-11
Prayer
Pray! It almost goes without saying yet it's often the most neglected facet of homeschooling. Acknowledge your weakness and lean on His strength and His ways. Yes, it is a walk of faith. For great information on homeschooling in faith I recommend Robin's article at Heart of Wisdom. As I have looked to God, more and more He has taken care of all our homeschool needs. In other words, the less I have planned and struggled, the more He has been in control and provided for us.
Resting in Him
Listening is so important. We need to listen more to God. Once we've asked for His help and direction, we need to stop and listen so that we may hear.
Recognising and Identifying
We need to watch and observe. We will often sense the prompting of the Holy Spirit (and gain help and direction) just by watching and observing our children. But one caution; recognising the individual make-up of each child and who he/she was created to be is an ongoing process. We need to understand that we will become students; students who study our children!
It's important to spend time identifying the following in each child:
- Strengths and natural ability and aptitude, also called talents
- Weaknesses
- Interests; what sparks their curiosity or desire to know more
- Their passions (things they would do if left to their own devices)
Once these things have been identified, pray and ask God to help you as you devise a plan to develop their strengths and to build up their weaknesses.
Balanced education
Identity Directed education is not child-led. It does not mean that the whim and fancy of each child is indulged. It doesn't mean only doing what the child is good at and ignoring everything else. While it is part of Delight Directed education, it isn't only about following delights. An athlete must train the whole body. It would be detrimental to their being to only train the areas of the body that they use most in their sport. A softball pitcher must have strong core muscles, upper body and leg muscles but they risk severe injury if these are the only areas they develop. They must also develop agility and speed, combined with power and explosiveness. They are required to use the muscle which allows them to pitch underarm yet if they don't develop the muscles that allow them to throw over arm, they risk injury. Athletes use their whole body in a natural way and they never isolate a single muscle group or joint in the competition. In training yes, in order to develop the area but, only with an aim of building a strong whole body, fit for competition. Training with balance in strengths and weaknesses is the key! Just as an athlete has a training routine, so must the education of a child have structure and routine. These things are [natural, God ordained] biblical principles just as day turns to night and autumn comes after summer.
An individual's strengths and weaknesses and interests are part of their God given make up! By identifying and encouraging their natural bents you will be launching them toward their purpose. Most of all, train in the ways of God and in wisdom!
Wisdom's way of learning is about seeking God for His plan for our family.
Starting Out
Well, after you have recognised your God given responsibility, and prayed for wisdom, guidance and direction you will have been observing your children closely while leaning on God. So what comes next?
Mapping out a plan - start with the end in mind.
- What are some skills that you want your strong, capable child to be have as an adult?
- What are the attitudes, character traits and information/knowledge that you want your children to have as adults?
- What are your educational, moral, spiritual personal, ethical, goals for my family?
- What direction has God shown you regarding you and your family's ministry in His Kingdom?
- Do your aims line up with the Bible?
Each response to these points should look different based upon the personal convictions, values and calling of each family. (However, all should line up with #5 Do your aims line up with the Bible?)
Many people realise the immense benefit of home education but sometimes it isn't until later on that parents come to see that homeschooling is more than academics. that it is a natural extension of God's purpose for the family. This brings us to another set of points worth pondering:
- What is 'family'?
- What things are important to us, as a family?
- What abilities and interests and concerns has the Lord given to us, as a family?
The response to these points will also vary greatly. This is an interesting exercise to do with your spouse as it can help you identify your family's unique purpose.
After identifying your family's goals and purpose you should be able to see what is most important and worth your time. Is it academics? Skills? Information or knowledge? Or relationships? Our family has a priority list of relationships (with God, others and self) first, then skills and then knowledge. One of our highest priority areas is to grow in wisdom, which only comes from God and falls under the category of 'relationships'.
"Academic education, as we know, should not be life's goal
for the Christian, rather, the goal should be discipleship to Jesus Christ."
Marilyn Howshall 'Wisdom's Way of Learning
In summary I'd like to encourage you to recognise God's call, seek Him for direction, rest in Him yet all the while listening and observing. Put fine, rich books and ideas before your children. Watch for a spark and allow them to dig further. You will see the learning.
For mre information and to stay in touch with Susan visit www.kerugma.net and her blog at www.kerugma.net/blog.
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Beverley Paine with her children, and their home educated children, relaxing at home.
Together with the support of my family, my aim is to help parents educate their children in stress-free, nurturing environments. In addition to building and maintaing this website, I continue to create and manage local and national home educating networks, help to organise conferences and camps, as well as write for, edit and produce newsletters, resource directories and magazines. I am an active supporter of national, state, regional and local home education groups.
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