Commitment

I decided to homeschool before I even had children. It was a noble idea born out of conviction that I could offer more to my children than I had received through the public school system–a conviction that there was a better way.

When it came time to begin, I was excited. I still am. I enjoy learning alongside my children. Every day holds a new challenge.

I always assumed I would educate through elementary school, but that my children would enter public school for high school. However, as we go along, learning together, it seems more and more likely that I will teach them all the way through their school careers. Since I taught my oldest two since preschool, and assuming our family dynamic remains the same, by the time Sprout graduates high school, I will have been teaching our children for 15 years.

 

When it stretches out before you like that, it makes you really stop and think. That’s a lot of one’s life to dedicate to the education of children!

But as I prepared for the new year, I dug a little deeper yet again. The new year for me is always a time to reassess. There were some things I needed to change in our schedule, and I wanted to do more in the way of teaching literature and to improve the methods I’ve been using to teach writing. I’ve been immersing myself in teaching training materials.

And the last two days with our new schedule and new approaches have been fantastic! I know I’m giving my children what’s best for them. I’m giving them things that are truly important, and it’s worth the commitment.

We’ve begun reading comprehension instruction from the Center for Literary Education and I’m beginning writing instruction from Excellent Resources. I’m already amazed at what we’ve learned together. And I’m keeping my commitment to limit my computer activities to “office hours” so I can get down to the important work of teaching.

Why is all this important?

Ultimately, so the more valuable lessons can be taught: independence, servanthood, a heart for others. Could there be anything better to commit your life to?