Tags
Convention, Curriculum, Family, Girls, HEAV, Homeschool, Mission Statement
Since I discussed Creating a Homeschool Mission Statement during my Preparing for Convention series, I thought I’d actually share with you what Hubby and I have decided on. This has been reviewed and updated for this year. (And is based on “Defining Your Homeschool Mission: It’s More Than Your Why“) It still serves us pretty well, but we refined it a bit. This has been slightly revised since an older post.
Our Homeschool Mission Statement
Our Goal
That our children become well-rounded, well-educated, interested individuals – who have the ability to investigate their own interests and be productive, independent, discerning, successful adults (however success is defined by them). We want our children to have strong Christian hearts and spiritual knowledge, as well emotionally and spiritually healthy.
“Our mission isn’t simply to pursue knowledge, but to pursue God’s wisdom and prepare our children to become God’s effective servants. We want our daughters to grow confident in Christ and the unique role that God created them to fulfill for His greater glory.” (quote that I loved enough to steal to use for ourselves.)
Verses That We Base Our Homeschool Plans On
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. — Proverbs 22:6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. — Proverbs 3:5-6
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? — Mark 8:36
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. — Deuteronomy 6:4-9
What Are Our Non-Negotiables?
- They must be challenged and be on a “college-ready” path, whether they go or not.
- College itself is flexible, advanced training or education of some sort is not.
How Do We Evaluate Our Efforts and Results?
- Their joy in learning. Learning can and should be fun, and more is retained when they enjoy what they are doing.
- Their curiosity and desire. Education should serve as a vehicle to whet their appetite for more knowledge, and give them the vehicle to further that knowledge.
- Successfully learning, retaining lessons. Not regurgitating information but truly understanding it.
- Personal relationship with and love for Christ. Deepening knowledge and understanding of the Bible, exploration of applying that understanding to their own lives, and sharing that love with others.
What We Look For in Curriculum
- Christian-based education.
- Family-based curriculum and learning together as much as possible.
- Encouraging independence in learning as they mature, though learning together when possible.
- Should encourage the love and joy of learning, delight-directed learning whenever possible. Not on “teaching to the test,” or Common Core Standards.
- Flexibility of time and curriculum and interests.
- Ease of program on teacher. Minimal preparation needed. No personal need to reinvent the wheel.
- Spending time with girls and as a family.
Have you created a Family Mission Statement, or a Homeschool Mission Statement/Plan? I’d love for you to share it with us if you have!