Consistency, Consistency, Consistency

We’ve been home schooling for 16 years now.  I’ve seen a lot of people that tried home schooling for a time and then gave up.  I’ve seen a lot of people that home schooled but never quite seemed to get the job done.  I’ve seen a lot of very successful home school families. 

Those that have been successful at home schooling have come from very different backgrounds.  The parents’ education has varied.  Their philosophy of education has  varied.  In fact, the one thing that I can think of that they all have in common has nothing to do with how much money they put into their home schooling or what curriculum they chose.  It all seems to come down to one thing — consistency. 

A lot of people have big plans.  They are willing to spend lots of money for that perfect thing that will make their kids soar.  They may have the perfect school room, the perfect family situation.  Everything seems to be going their way.  I’ve seen a lot of these same people either give up their home schooling thoughts or flounder around not getting anywhere in their child’s education.  What’s the problem?  They aren’t consistent. 

The successful home schooling family will have a simple, easily followed schedule and stick with it.  It’s not the marathon school days that educate our children.  It’s not the expensive curriculum.  It’s not even the well stocked school room.  Success for our kids depends on the day to day, consistent home schooling.

There are times that I get to thinking we aren’t accomplishing much.  it doesn’t seem that one lesson a day in particular subject is moving very fast.  It doesn’t seem that the book we’re reading aloud is ever going to end.  It doesn’t seem like the children are making any notable progress.  When thoughts like this start to cloud my mind, it helps to do an inventory of what we’ve studied so far.  When I look back over the past few months, I realize that we have done a lot of learning.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  We take off a day here and there.  We’ve gone a few field trips.  We’ve had some interruptions that made home schooling for a day or two impossible.  The key is to keep consistent.  Then when those little surprises or even planned events come along, there’s time to enjoy them.  In fact, they are treasured.  We all need a break now and then.  Just make sure that the breaks are the exception and not the rule.