Setting Our Children on a Path to Success

As homeschool parents, we all want to ensure that our children are prepared for college and their future careers. However, it's important to remember that college and job employers value character just as much, if not more, than content knowledge. The problem is that it is much easier to teach a person new information than it is to teach them character.

Character is formed at a young age, and the home is often where this formation takes place. According to DeMill, teaching is more about the teacher than the student. As homeschool parents, we must be aware of how we react to our children and how we create systems to deal with them.

One way to ensure that our children are well-rounded and have strong character is to strive for ideals in our homeschooling. The concept of "The Idea of a School" by John Dewey highlights the importance of having ideals to strive for, even if they may not be fully attainable. A good school, according to Dewey, is a "faculty of friends that attracts learners."

But how do we create attraction for learning in our homeschool? One way is to be intellectually excited about the subjects we are teaching. Our enthusiasm can be contagious and can spark curiosity in our children. Additionally, we should also focus on physical and mental readiness for learning. Preparation alone is not enough; we must also create a culture of care, love and provide a rich curriculum.

It's important to remember that love is a vital component of any education. As homeschool parents, we believe that we love our children, but sometimes that love may not be active. Active love means showing it through our actions, words, and intangibles. It's also important to be aware of what is happening invisibly in the classroom. The sense that a student is believed in can make a huge impact on their development.

In conclusion, as homeschool parents, it is important to remember that character formation is just as important as content knowledge in preparing our children for college and their future careers. By striving for ideals, being excited about learning, fostering a culture of care and love, and being aware of the invisible dynamics in the classroom, we can set our children on the path to success.