Christian Education Europe - Weekly Blog #home education

5 Ways to be at Peace with your Decision about Homeschooling

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:29:59 +0000

Deciding to home educate is a huge choice which, ultimately, will change the way that you and your children live. With this in mind, here are 5 things to do which will help with your peace of mind when making your decision.

1. Pray.

It seems obvious, but sometimes we forget.

Just like every other area in our lives, making the decision to home educate will benefit from some prayerful consideration.

Ultimately, God knows what is best for you and your family. He knows your future. He knows which path is right. Initiating your research into home education with a time of prayer will prepare your heart and bring you peace from the get-go.

Make space for the Holy Spirit to influence your thinking as you consider the right course of education for your children.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4: 6-7

2. Have a conversation with someone who has been there.

Talking to someone who has ‘been there, done that, and owns the t-shirt,’ is one of the best ways to find out the nitty-gritty of home education.

Often one of the main doubts about homeschooling is whether you are up to taking on the challenge. Speaking with someone who has been through the fire and made it out the other side can really help to quash those doubts.

We believe that having a conversation with someone who is experienced is really valuable; this is why we organise for all the families considering home educating with TEACH to have a call from our TEACH National Coordinator, Becky.

Becky has home educated both her daughters with ACE, from the early stages right through to graduation, and has great knowledge and advice for anyone who is looking into taking the same path.

Becky has also been hosting regular Zoom meetings for people to join where TEACH families and prospective TEACH families can chat together and share questions and knowledge. These meetings are not only fantastic for getting answers, but also for making connections.

If you want to have a chat with Becky or join one of the upcoming Zoom meetings, click the links below.

Request a Call from Becky

3. Research the curriculum. Would it work for your child?

The truth is ACE is not a one-size-fits-all curriculum. There are students who take to it more than others, and that is okay.

Each student is different and therefore needs different styles of learning. Before you invest in ACE, it’s important that you are confident that it will work well for you child.

Some things to know about ACE:

It is highly structured. ACE has a special format and unique procedures that are fantastic IF they are followed. Some families find this structure to be a blessing, because it means no planning is needed—it’s all there to follow. However, other families can find the format overwhelming or restricting.

It is Bible-based. What does Bible-based mean? It means there’s a lot of Biblical text and Christian principles layered throughout. Each PACE (workbook) has its own Bible verse to memorise and also focuses on one of the characteristics of Christ (for example, peaceful). The curriculum also teaches Biblical 6-day Creation as the ultimate explanation of the origins of life (however, all origin theories are presented to students in terms of academic content).

It does not cover EVERYTHING. ACE is a fantastic academic tool and definitely does cover a lot of ground, but there are still extracurricular subjects that you will need to supplement in your homeschool, such as practical studies like sports and the arts. For some, this can be a negative, but for others it means that they can adapt the learning outside of PACE-time to each child in a more personal way.

There are a few ways that we recommend you trying out ACE to see if it is the right fit for you:

Take the free online diagnostic test. This test will give the student a taste of what it is like to work on PACEs. It will give them an idea of how information is presented and what type of questions they will be asked. Having them take the test is a good initial way of seeing if the curriculum will work for the student.

Do a trial run. Set a month aside to trial ACE with your family. When you sign up with TEACH, you will receive the following things:

A Parent Training Course—This short course is provided with the intention of giving parents an initial understanding of the format of ACE and how to administrate it while home educating.

Diagnostic Prescription—We send parents details and instruction on the best way for the student to take the ACE diagnostic test, and once the results are through, we put together a prescription which recommends which workbooks each student needs to start at.

A trial run will give you access to these helpful TEACH services and start you off on a secure footing with ACE. If by the end of the month, you feel like ACE is not working for you, then you can just email us to cancel your membership—it’s that simple—and if it does work for you, fantastic!

Note: It can take some students time to adjust to a different approach to learning, so there are times where you may need to allow more than a month to see if the curriculum and style of the programme are a good fit.

4. Educate yourself about the Time and Financial Cost of Homeschooling with ACE.

There are two important practical elements to consider when looking into home educating.

Do you have the time to supervise your children?

Having time to supervise the students is essential to their education. The presence of a responsible adult while they are working will help them feel supported, take away any temptation to cheat, and give you as the parent a great insight into how they are managing.

It is SO important that there is someone to watch over students as they homeschool. A lack of adult supervision, support, and input is really damaging to students in the long run. If you are unable to be there to home educate your children during the day, we strongly recommend you look for a responsible and trusted adult who can supervise them, or have them attend a school. We understand that many parents need to work during the day and are not able to give time to home educating; it’s 100% okay in these cases to choose not to home educate.

If you are interested in ACE, but cannot home educate, there are ACE schools across the country that you may be able to look into. Click the link below for info on ACE Schools.

ACE Schools in the UK and Europe

2. The financial cost of ACE

Choosing ACE is essentially, choosing private education. In comparison with a lot of other private education options ACE is very reasonable, but it is still an extra financial investment towards education that you have to keep in mind.

On average a family home-educating with ACE will spend £500-£600 per year on curriculum per child. This can vary slightly from child to child as some of the resources can be passed down from older children to younger children.

To make the financial costs of ACE easier to manage the TEACH membership includes a 20% discount for members, and you can buy curriculum from the shop as you need it. (So you can purchase a months’ worth, or a terms worth if you are unable to pay for a years worth of curriculum at once). We also offer rental of the ABC’s kit, and the preschool kit can be purchased in quarters.

We hope that this info clarifies the costs for you, so that you are able to budget accordingly and have peace of mind if you decide to invest in ACE.

5. Make sure that there is a support network

Finally, seek out a support network as soon as you can. Home educating can be a lonely road, but encouragement and strength comes from finding like-minded individuals to take the journey with.

There are lots of home education groups out there to join with. In terms of TEACH, we have our own closed group on Facebook for members, and also we encourage you to partake in our events, which are online at the moment, but hopefully can be in person soon! Attending events gives you opportunity to connect with the larger TEACH community and find new friends and acquaintances along the way. If you become a TEACH member we can also look into connecting you with other TEACH families who live near you, so that you can have fellowship and discussion outside of events too!

TEACH itself is here to provide support for home educators who are using ACE, so you can always come to us for advice and practical help.

You can email us via teach@christian.education with any questions or concerns.

We hope that you are able to be at peace with whatever decision you make regarding homeschooling with ACE. We know that if you cover these 5 points you will be educated and ready to make a confident decision and please do contact us if you have any questions or need any clarifications along the way.

Check out the TEACH Website here

AUTUMN ACTIVITIES

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 10:32:41 +0000

"I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
Anne of Green Gables, LM Montgomery

There are not many experiences that are as pleasant as a sunny autumn day with blue sky over your head and crisp fallen leaves below your feet. Since we are currently going into what looks to be a splendid autumnal season, we thought it would be nice to share some seasonal activities that your students or children could take part in.

Let’s take a moment and focus on enjoying this beautiful season!

Artistry and Design

Autumn is arguably one of the most beautiful seasons; it inspires the artist within us all. If you want to encourage your children to practice their art skills or even start to dabble in art, now would be a good time to begin!

The easiest place to start would probably be photography. Take your children/ students for a walk and get them to take photographs of the beautiful scenes they come across. When you get back home, have a chat with them about the pictures they’ve snapped. Ask them about the colours and textures that they have witnessed, ask them how the scenery made them feel, what they liked about it (and what they didn’t like), ask them what their favourite photograph is and talk about the ways the composition favoured the aesthetic of the day.

Top Photography Tip: The best time to take photos is an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. These are called the ‘Golden Hours’ because they have the best light.

Make use of the leaves!

Leaf collage – On a sunny day, go out for a walk and collect the most colourful leaves you can find. Then, when you get home, stick them on a piece of paper for an autumn-y collage. You could even ‘jazz’ it up with some glitter or colourful paper.

Leaf printing – An old favourite, leaf printing is what it says on the tin. Collect some really good VEINY leaves from a variety of different trees, paint the most textured side of the leaf and then press the painted side against a nice big piece of paper for a beautiful transfer. You could even use a different colour for each type of leaf to create a colourful flurry of prints on one page.

Natural History & Science

At this time of year there are many things that are ‘vilified’ in the name of spookiness. One of the problems that comes with this is that fear can start to surround things that should be acceptable and interesting. A great way of countering this is to EDUCATE.

For example, look at the skeleton—the frame of the human body. Skeletons are made up of over 200 bones which help us to move and protect our organs. God created the skeleton for an important purpose. Skeletons are not scary! We all have one, and they are AMAZING.

Other misunderstood victims of this time of year include wolves, bats, spiders, and the humble pumpkin. Use Natural History and Science to make a case for them!

Cooking & Baking

Speaking of pumpkins. Have you ever made a pumpkin pie? Or pumpkin soup, or pumpkin relish?

There are so many other delicious fruits and vegetables available at this time of year, too. How about apples? You could delve into how one type of fruit can be the highlight of many recipes. You could make Apple sauce, Apple Pie, Apple Crumble, Apple Cake… you get the idea.

This is the time of year for heartwarming dishes, and many of them are quite simple to make. It’s a great opportunity to teach baking skills and enjoy time together cooking up delicious dishes.

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We hope you enjoy these seasonal suggestions. Do you have any autumn activities that you do? Share in the comments 😊

FINDING FOCUS

Thu, 14 May 2020 09:50:48 +0000

Home can be a very distracting place. It has siblings, toys, food, television and many more things that, to a child, will seem a lot more interesting than schoolwork.

For a homeschooling student, these distractions can be quite the challenge to ignore. It’s even more of a challenge for the parents trying to encourage their children to keep their eyes on their schoolwork.

With that in mind, here are a few things that can be done in order to encourage focus in academic studies.

Explain the long-term importance of studies to your children. Although this may seem to fall on deaf ears, regularly remind your children of how learning will help them in their lives. This is not to push them forcefully into great academic accomplishments, but rather to emphasise that education is a key to many doors. Your children may not know what they want to achieve in their adult life, but they can be equipped, so that when they get there the possibilities will be open to them. Education leads to opportunity.

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. - Ecclesiastes 7:12

Keep to a schedule. Schedules bring stability and predictability to the schooling hours, and these things are so important in keeping a child motivated to keep working. Academic work is exhausting. For a student to know when their breaks are, or when PACE time is due to finish, will make a huge difference in their performance. Schedules and time-tables will help students learn that there is a time for everything, and that if they allocate specific time to focus on their schooling and NOT let anything else push into that time, they will GET WORK DONE. This accomplishing of work then leads to feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction in completing their goals, and actual digestion of knowledge – and all that leads to motivation to get work done the next day. Scheduling shows a student that they only have to give a limited amount of time to their schoolwork, after which they can focus on their hobbies, chores, family – other life stuff – so they won’t feel bogged down. We have a recommended timetable in our TEACH handbook (download below), but there are lots of other timetables and scheduling solutions available online too. Find the one that is right for your family and try to set it in place.

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. - Psalm 104:19

Get the hard stuff done in the morning. Scientific study shows that the brain can comprehend and digest academics more in the morning. After a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast, your children will be mentally ready to take on the bigger challenges. Start the school day with all the heavy-duty subjects (usually Maths, English, and Science) that need extra concentration. If these harder subjects are left for the end of the day, you may find that your children burn out quickly and are unable to achieve their goals, which can be discouraging and deceive them into thinking that they are not capable – which is not the truth.

If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success- Ecclesiastes 10:10

Encourage a love of learning. Yeah, there probably will be a subject that your child just DOES NOT enjoy – a least favourite subject, if you will. Sometimes this one (seemingly) lackluster subject can make them think that learning/education is boring. It’s your job to show them otherwise. If one way of learning something isn’t working for your child, maybe they just need to see it from another perspective. Now, the PACEs have the academic information, but if your child is struggling, maybe find a video that supplements the topic, or do a project that will help boost their understanding of it. When they do master something they have found difficult, praise them and rejoice with them. Sometimes a love of learning comes from the fact that yes, something was REALLY hard, but they still got it in the end.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

You are THE example. Children are watching you. If they see that you are procrastinating, they will procrastinate. You have to practice what you preach. And if you fail (which will happen, because you are human) you have to show them how to make it right again. It’s a daunting thought, but how you behave as an adult will have a huge impact on how they develop. This goes for aunts, uncles, older siblings, and friends of the family as well. Children are our legacy. It is our responsibility to imitate Godly character, so that they can learn valuable life lessons.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:16

As the French Proverb says, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” If you are finding there is a lack of focus in your school day, these are all really good ideas, and we encourage you to implement them. However, not everything is a quick fix. All children are different, and their needs are different. You can tweak and alter these suggestions to fit with what brings out the best focus with your children. Be encouraged.

Download the TEACH Handbook Here!

CONSTRUCTIVE ISOLATION

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 12:30:00 +0000

In the next few weeks you may be required to stay isolated at home for a period of time due to the viral pandemic currently sweeping the globe. Some may have even started their self-quarantine already.

Many of you who are reading this article will already have a firm grasp on home educating, an organised schedule, and a general idea of how your children take on academic work within the home. However, with the additional restrictions that may come into play, you may have to be more creative with how you fill the time outside of PACE work. If you are new to home educating, or are taking it up temporarily, the information below will be helpful.

We have put together some advice and ideas that you may want to use; also feel free to share your tips and tricks for keeping children and students occupied during this time in the comments.

Preparing to Home Educate

Preparation does not mean panic. In order to be able to manage educating at home, it's good to have a plan -- even more so in this current situation.

First, take a breath. Try and find a quiet moment to put your thoughts in order and get into the right head space.
Make a list of the practical things you will need to provide for students studying at home. e.g. workbooks, stationery.
Consider a space that they can use for their studies. If they have a desk, great! But if not, any kind of table will do the trick.
IMPORTANT! Create a schedule. Most children will be super excited about not having to go to school and will be thinking of all the recreational things they can do outside of the classroom. If you create a firm schedule and clearly define the time of day that is set aside for study, and the times they will be free to play, it will make all the difference in the success of the home-ed routine. Try and keep mornings for academics and the afternoon for other activities.
We recommend that you try and keep children to their current schedule. e.g. if they usually start school at 8:30, make sure they are up, dressed, and ready to work at that point.
Free yourself up the initial few days to be available to assist them, and help them settle into the new routine. They will probably be excited about the prospect of you being around as they study (depending on their age and personalities, of course) and will want to ask you a lot of questions and get you involved with what they are doing.
Remember, even if you don't have a structured curriculum with you at home, there are plenty of resources available online, and a lot of learning opportunities within the home (see 'keeping busy' section below).
If you are new to home-educating or feel overwhelmed and down about not being able to manage, don't worry and don't be harsh with yourself. Take baby steps; do as much as you are able. This is an out of the blue situation, and everyone is facing problems and having to take on new tasks. You are not alone.

Find out about Home Educating with TEACH Here

Keeping Busy at Home

Academics aside, there will be a lot of time to fill when you have to be at home for an extended period. Obviously, if there is someone who is ill among you, time must be spent making sure that person has the care they need. However, if you are self-isolating to avoid contamination, or because of the possibility of spreading illness, there may be a lot of energy that needs to be directed in a creative and purposeful way. Here are some suggestions that will help you bring learning into everyday life:

Housework - Anyone who has ever had to do housework KNOWS how much energy it takes. It's basically a workout. You can use quarantine as an opportunity to teach your children all about the skill of managing a house -- when clothes should be washed, or how to use detergents and cleaning products safely, even how to make a budget for the week. Many skills learned in the house are directly transferred to adult life. Learning about the responsibilities of housekeeping will be a help towards them owning their responsibilities in the future. This doesn't have to be made into a chore; make an event of it. Stick some music on, watch a cartoon when you have a break, and enjoy a clean and tidy house together.
Cooking - Cooking is a combination of organisation, chemistry, maths, care, and creativity. Why not rustle up some ingredients from the back of the cupboard and choose a recipe together? Explain the importance of the right ratio of ingredients to get the most delicious results. You could even make a lesson out of it. Find a chef or baker on YouTube, watch their video and recreate their recipes. You never know, you may find that your children have a passion for culinary arts!
Architecture - well, sort of. Why not build an indoor den with chairs, blankets, and pillows? Dens make ordinary things seem exciting. To read a book or draw a picture in a den is a lot more fun than just sitting at a table. Mini obstacle courses are also very diverting and can be done inside and outside.
Go outside - Whist we are being encouraged to socially isolate, it is important that fresh air is still a part of daily life. If you have an enclosed garden, try and make the most of it during this time. If you don't have a garden, try and get out for a walk in an area that isn't busy and crowded. The great thing about being outdoors is that things can get messy. Some options are: make footprint paintings on big pieces of paper, have a bug hunt, make a vegetable patch, or wash the car!
Exercise - Having a workout is scientifically proven to benefit both mind and body. Exercise releases endorphins in the body. Endorphins are chemicals that work to elevate a person's mood and are also natural painkillers. Other hormones released during exercise are dopamine and serotonin, both of which help regulate your mood. Chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol are reduced in your body during exercise, which in turn helps reduce stress levels. Being in a quarantine situation is the opposite of relaxing, and worries and tension may come from it. Exercising will help alleviate those negative feelings. Why not find a workout online that will be fun for everyone and exercise together? Create competition to see who can hold the longest plank or who can do the most sit-ups. Explain the benefits of exercise, and remember to keep hydrated!
Art & Creativity - Pinterest is a fountain of creative ideas that you can do with your family. Even if you don't have many crafting materials, you can make things out of stuff around the house. Upcycle some old socks and make sock puppets, draw and colour in a favourite animal, write a script and make movies with a phone. Write a 'quarantine journal', poem, song, or story about the experience (or about anything else). There is literally an endlessness to delving into the creative arts, and it is such a satisfying enterprise because there is always a tangible, and enjoyable, result (most of the time).
Rest - Whilst it is wise to incorporate learning into the time that you have at home, it is equally as important to make that definition between time to work and allow time to rest. Don't feel bad if your children have a day or so in front of the TV or with their video games. Don't feel bad if you decide to get a pizza delivered instead of having a home cooking class. Rest is necessary if you want to be at your best form when it counts. Being burnt out doesn't help anyone. When it's time for holidays, have a holiday; when it's the weekend, have a weekend; and when you've had a time of work, have a time of rest.

Be Encouraged

It's easy to be discouraged and have negative thoughts in times of uncertainty. As believers we can be secure because of our trust that God has a higher plan in all things and that He can take a bad situation and change it for the good.

A time of isolation can have a negative impact, but we can choose to think of the positive elements.

We can use this time at home to meditate more through reading the Bible and prayer.
We can spend more time together as a family.
We can take an opportunity to disconnect from the fast, furious, and exhausting way modern society works.
We can find opportunities to show kindness and respect to those who have the bigger need.
We can have a time of collective prayer for the world we share.

So, even though we are not together, we can be together in listening to the Holy Spirit and sharing the benefits of Christian values in times like these:

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;

against such things, there is no law.

Galatians 5: 22-23