If I could start over again, I would homeschool my children a little differently (from the start) than I have done. Since I can’t go back in time and tell myself to change things, I am sharing my best tips for homeschooling with you!

I would focus on two things for our “school time.” These are so simple that you may not believe them to be true—I assure you, they are!

My Best Tips for Homeschooling

1.Read at least one chapter of the Bible to your children every day. Start when they are babies and continue reading the Bible repeatedly. Make it the most important book in your home and life. Hide the Word in their hearts (and yours). God’s Word is a living Word, and it will not return void!

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

2.Read books with good morals, lessons, and godly characters out loud to my children every day. Start with books that may seem slightly above their developmental level. Choose “living books” whenever possible. This will go a long way toward teaching them language arts: reading, writing, and spelling. Gathering your children around you to read an interesting story together creates a connection. Also, encourage them to enjoy books on their own.  Give them good books full of interesting facts and pictures that will hold their attention even before they have learned to read. Books meant for them to read should be at the appropriate developmental level to encourage reading (rather than discourage).

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4

All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient.

Now, I am not saying that the curriculum and resources we have used over the last 20 years were bad, but I am saying that the emphasis should have always been on learning God’s Word, first and foremost. All other education should have been secondary.

Textbooks have their place, but they are not always edifying to the soul, and we should never be “brought under the power of any”. No curriculum, schedule, or worldly expectations should master us. (I am thankful for finding a great math curriculum that teaches from a Christian perspective)

I am speaking to the parent. We need to care more about our children’s souls than their grades. 

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12

If I could go back to when my first child was born, I would tell myself these best tips for homeschooling. I am not sure I would heed this advice, though, because some things just have to be learned through experience. The good news is that I have learned to implement these with my youngest children, and it has been a blessing for all of us!

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