Why? What? and How?

"She (mother) must ask herself seriously, Why must the child learn at all? What should they learn? And How should they learn it? If she take the trouble to find a definite and thoughtful answer to each of these three queries, she will be in a position to direct her child's studies; and will, at the same time be surprised to find that three-fourths of the time and labor ordinarily spent by the child at his lessons is lost time and wasted energy."

-Charlotte Mason, Home Education pg. 171

I have been thinking about these questions a lot lately. Before I begin any schooling with Jeb I wanted to get the answer to these questions in black and white. The answers to these questions will form the foundation for our home school. I hope to get Chris to answer these questions and combine his thoughts with mine.

Why? Since we are called by God to be good stewards of all that he has entrusted to our care, my children should learn because he has blessed them with minds that are capable and hungry for knowledge. I want my children learning all they can in preparation for the purpose and plan God has for their lives.

What? My children should learn first and foremost about God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ. If they do not learn of God's love for them and Jesus' sacrifice for them, nothing else really matters.

"the knowledge of God is the principal knowledge and the chief end of education."

-Home Education, preface

My children should also learn:

• to love and care for God's creation (understanding that the created reveals the creator)
• to read
• skills to be successful in day to day life (math, investigation, fixing things, the smooth running of a home, communication in writing and speaking, etc.)
• (boys) to be protectors, providers and Spiritual leaders
• (girls) to posses a gentle spirit and a servants heart

How? "We are limited to three educational instruments-the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit and the presentation of living ideas." Home Education, preface

My children can learn many things in the natural home atmosphere. Not only, the day to day workings of a home, but also the qualities of gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, and good communication as it is observed in our lives.

When my children become disciplined in the habits of attentiveness, truthfulness, imagination, remembering, etc. learning will be a joy.

When I present my child with living ideas, a passion for learning will be embraced. I do not want my children to be memorizing useless facts all day long to pass a test. I want my children to be immersed in ideas that they feel passionately about. I do not want my children to memorize historical dates, but to experience what it was like to live in a particular time and place. I want my children to watch a caterpillar change into a butterfly and not just observe drawings in a textbook. I want them to use measurements while building a birdhouse, not just read about them in a math word problem.

Most of all, I see so much potential in my children and I want to be the one that nurtures and encourages. I want to be the one that teaches them to read. I want to be the one that takes them on a field trip. My children's unique learning styles and talents cannot be nurtured to their full potential in a classroom setting. I know because I have taught in a classroom!