Ten Important Suggestions for All Home Schooling Families

1. Be convinced of your purpose and convictions as parents. Are your children's needs more important than pressure from family, neighbors, etc.? Are their needs more important than bad legislation? Coping through pressure is better handled when you really get to know your child and are able to depend fully on the Lord for His guidance and loving care.

2. Evaluate yourself. Are you willing to be a patient, caring parent, willing to further grow in the areas of consistency and self-discipline where needed? This will benefit you, your children and your entire home school atmosphere.

3. Be knowledgeable in the ways your children to learn and develop. Be able to verbalize these methods to others.

4. Parents have Biblical and constitutional rights and responsibilities. Learn what they are. Become aware of the current issues in our local, state, and federal government which can affect us. Do something about them.

5. Seek good counsel from those who are knowledgeable in the areas you are weak. Be a vital part of a local support group.

6. Choose curriculum that suits the need of your child.

7. Be a balanced Home Schooler. Do not expect the information from textbooks to be all you will need. Study from the curriculum part of your day, but don't neglect household responsibilities, reading aloud, singing, playing, reading, building and creating things, etc. Your imagination is your only limitation.

8. Be proud of your unique educational stand. On the other hand, there is no need to flaunt it. "And make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands..." (1 Thes. 4:11)

9. Don't get ruffled if your children do not progress as quickly as you think they should be progressing. Unnecessary pressure from parents on a child, who is not ready, can be harmful and chaotic. Dr. James Dobson reminds us that comparison is the root of all low self-esteem.

10. Dr. Raymond Moore suggests, "Let's have more warmth and consistent firmness, less indulgence, more work with you, more tools, sticks, nails than fancy toys, more service for others-the old, the young, the poor, the infirm-less sports and amusements; more self-control, patriotism, responsibility, which lead to, and follow, self-worth as noble citizens. Parents and home undiluted, usually do this best."

The above suggestions are an amplified version of "The 10 Little Commandments for Home Schools" by Dr. Raymond Moore; Home Grown Kids, pp. 21-22