What are your expectations for the year ahead? Have you let a little fear about your abilities as a teacher creep in and lower your expectations? Did you have a rough year last year and so this year you are hoping to just get through half of your textbooks and have fewer meltdowns?
God gives us some instructions on how to proceed when we have reduced our expectations based on past experiences. In 2 Kings chapter 3, we read about three kings who had joined together to travel to Moab to deal with their revolt. In verse 9, we find that they have run into a problem of not enough water. Out of desperation, they decide to consult with the prophet Elisha to seek the Lord’s favor. After hearing from the Lord, Elisha tells the kings , “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ ” (2 Kings 3:16 NKJ) He goes on to tell them to make the ditches even though they will see no signs of rain or even wind coming. They obey and the Lord fills the ditches the next day with plenty of water for all and even goes on to deliver victory to them over the Moabites. We learn from this passage that we are to be obedient to God’s commands even when we don’t understand them and we don’t see any obvious way as to how He will bless our obedience. As homeschool parents, we are to bring our children up in the teaching and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4). So even when we are filled with doubts as to our qualifications to be “good” teachers, or we feel like failures because our kids are struggling in an area, it doesn’t mean that we are to give up and lower our expectations. No, keep on keepin’ on and trusting the Lord for the results. He wants to fill our ditches with living water, but we have to keep digging the ditches! Happy to be in the field digging ditches with you! Susan Truman 10/1/2015
A New Textbook - the "Fun" BookI received a treasured gift the other day. As I was checking in with my college freshman daughter and trying to get a feeling as to how she was truly coping with this dramatic new chapter in her life, she said to me “I’m really having fun learning new things. I feel really sorry for a lot of my classmates who were at traditional school because they just don’t seem to enjoy learning. They are just really worried about getting good grades and getting their work done on time.” Well, of course I would love to have heard that she was really concerned with those things as well, but I stopped and chose to relish the fact that she uttered the words, “I really love learning!” Phew! I guess something good happened from our years of homeschooling!
My encouragement to you this month is to work at making your homeschooling day full of fun moments so your students don’t develop a feeling of dread when they see their textbooks and an attitude that learning is dull and boring. Textbooks are fine as a guide to keep you on track with what new topics you should be working on, but don’t be afraid to veer off the path a bit in your methods of teaching. Turn your spelling time into a fun exercise of chalk writing on the driveway. Recite your multiplication tables while playing hopscotch. Before you start your lesson on Egypt, tell your kids you need a few minutes and go put on some dramatic eyeliner and come out as Cleopatra! I bet you’ll get their attention a lot more than if you just say “Now read from page 5-9 and then tell me what it was about.” Make your home lots of fun and you will reap the benefits of increased family unity and hopefully some lifelong learners! Christ tells us “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11) Well, if we are truly filled with a joyful heart knowing all that the Lord has done for us, shouldn’t we be living with a light, happy, and playful spirit? Let’s not let the responsibilities of life hinder us from bringing up our children to understand what it means to live a joy filled life based on trusting our Heavenly Father! So, this month, remember to get a new textbook off your school shelf – your “Fun”book! Praying you enjoy your homeschooling days this month! Susan Truman 4/1/2015
Let Them Stumble......Failure is something we all try to avoid. We are embarrassed by it and discouraged by it. Our “self-esteem” plummets when we experience it. We attempt to hide it or deny it. And as parents, we definitely try to keep our kids from experiencing it!
This month, I want to encourage you to let your children go through some of those dreaded failures! I want to encourage you that it could actually be very good for them for you to stop being 10 steps ahead of your kids at all times making sure there are no bumps in their paths. Stop making their lessons easier so they don’t have to struggle to grasp a new concept or giving them fewer practice exercises because “they are too tired.” It is through failures and struggles that we grow and most importantly humility is built. When our children “apparently” succeed at everything they try because we have either eliminated the challenges ahead of them or hid them, our children become “wise in their own eyes.” Proverbs 3:7 warns us from becoming wise in our own eyes and encourages us instead to fear the Lord. When a child stumbles and struggles and experiences failure, he has an opportunity to learn about his human failings and his need for a savior. Going through failure can actually help point our kids back to God! And that is what our parenting is all about, right? We want our kids to understand their need for a savior and surrender their lives to our Heavenly Father. I have encountered a fair amount of teens who have been shielded from failure for most of their early years and are now sadly lacking in humility. It is hard for them to completely surrender their lives to Jesus when they are prideful. Please understand that I am not saying in any way to be harsh with your children and overly critical and creating a desperately insecure child. Don’t structure situations that set them up for failure. Just don’t make everything so easy for them so that they don’t have to deal with the natural consequences of their actions and limitations. My husband and I chose to involve our children in youth theater, knowing full well that it would expose them to the very probable experience of disappointment of not being cast for roles they wanted. There were many opportunities for growth during their years in theater, but the one that I found the most positive was learning humility. Scripture tells us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 It took me many years to fully embrace that verse. I did not want to look at the trials in my life as joyful events. After years, I have come to understand how powerful they have been and how they have drawn me closer to my Heavenly Father. Many of you know that I have a severely autistic 20 year old son who functions at about a 2 year old level. Parenting him, while bringing me many joys, has also brought me to the end of myself and to the feet of Jesus to ask for His wisdom, patience, and strength. Our goal should be to learn from our failures and become like the righteous man described in Proverbs: “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.” (Proverbs 24:16) In His service, Susan Truman 10/1/2014
When Doubts Creep In...There are moments as a homeschool parent when the doubts about your adequacy start to replace your excitement and enthusiasm for your choice to travel down the uncharted road of homeschooling. We all have the tough day when everything seems to go wrong – the kitchen sink backs up, the baby comes down with a fever, your mother-in-law calls and needs a ride to the doctor and your best laid plans of taking your 1st and 3rd graders to the museum and have a picnic lunch at the beach while studying about dolphins have to be put aside. At those moments, you start to wonder if you are cut out for this “homeschooling thing” or if you are doing your children a disservice. As I approach the ending of my journey as a homeschool mom, those doubts creep into my mind too. Have I taught my daughter everything I was supposed to? Why didn’t I spend a little more time on quadratic formulas in Algebra 2? I’m sure she would have done better on her SAT if I had been better disciplined and used every spare moment to teach her more things! It’s all my fault I am an inadequate human being!
As I was wrestling with these kind of thoughts the other afternoon, God prompted me to remember the story of Moses. God chose him to deliver God’s people from the oppression of the Pharaoh. He was not a fully equipped and trained leader. He was actually a man in hiding trying to escape punishment for killing the Egyptian. Not exactly who we would think God would choose to do such a mighty work! Even Moses knew he wasn’t the “perfect” person for the job and tried to get out of the call three times. The first time he said…”Who am I?” (Ex. 3:11) The second time he said…”But they will not believe me or listen to me.” (Ex. 4:1) The third time (can you imagine his desperation)…”I can’t even talk right!” (Ex. 4:10) And God’s answer to Moses was, “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Ex 4:12) God doesn’t call perfect people to do His work. He chooses the broken, the imperfect, the weak, so that His power can be revealed. (“Therefore I will glory in my infirmities, for when I am weak, You are strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9) And God says to us, homeschool parents…”Now, therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak…” Most definitely. You can be sure of it. He is here for us. We are not doing this job alone and we do not have to be perfect to be used by Him. All He wants is a willing, obedient heart. My prayer for you is that you remember Moses on those days when the doubts creep in and don’t get discouraged! God is with you! In His service, Susan Truman 4/1/2014
Who is in Your Pod?..........So everyone! How are you doing with adding people to your pod this year? In September, I encouraged you to add some new “Dolphins” to your “pod.”
Have you reached out and added some new like-minded friends that have helped you through the tough times this year? I hope so! It looks like a lot of you are attending Joanna Trombley’s Parent Training sessions which I am SOOO glad to see. I know a lot of you are coming to Park Day after Academy Day which is great too! These are such important tools to help you in having a successful homeschooling journey. The Lord designed us to live in community and commanded us to bear one another’s burdens and lift each other up. “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) What a joy it was for me to see our Coastal families rally around and support several our families who went through some tough medical and financial crises this winter! If on the other hand, you are still feeling alone and need some dolphins to lift you up and carry you through the remainder of this school year, it’s not too late! Please, I urge you, take the risk, open up, make yourself vulnerable to a brother or sister in the Lord and get the help you need! Drop the plastic façade that everything is fine and be real with each other. Ask for some wisdom from someone who is a little further down the road from you and let them share the insights the Lord has given them. Put your pride aside and you will be blessed. Come to Parent training and open up. Make time for Park Day and sit and talk with the other parents there. Call another family and have an impromptu field trip to the beach and walk and talk with a friend. It will be good for both you and your children! I am repeating the passage I included in the September newsletter as it is so powerful - 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 So thankful that you are in my pod! 4/1/2013
Don't Venture Out Alone.....“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
(Proverbs 11:14) Dear Coastal families, The Bible clearly encourages employing the counsel of others in our endeavors, and homeschooling is no exception. With the many choices of curriculum alone, the support of other like-minded individuals is vital. I could not imagine venturing through this journey alone. Coastal Academy exists to support you in your incredibly important call to be a homeschooling family. We exist to support you as parents and to support your students. If you are feeling overwhelmed and struggling, I want to encourage you to reach out and take advantage of some of the services we provide for you.
And to you, more experienced families, don’t shy away from these services either. You and your wisdom are needed to encourage our other families. Please come and participate and share the lessons that God has taught you. “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17) Enjoying being on the journey with you, Susan Truman By this time in your homeschool year, you may be feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. The excitement of new text books has worn off; it’s been difficult to get everyone excited again after the slow down over Christmas vacation; you may have gotten behind when everyone caught a winter cold; now you’re just longing for the weather to be warm again and the year to be wrapping up.
Well, I am reminded of God’s words- “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) There are some very specific things we can do to help us not grow weary and turn the corner to joy and excitement once again.
3. Remember that our source of strength is not in ourselves but in our heavenly father. Do not look for worldly solutions to your weariness – taking naps to escape, lightening the work load just to make it easier on your kids, snapping at them hoping that tougher discipline will make them tow the line, making your home a war zone where everyone is stressed out… Remember that God knows all and has far superior solutions to your struggles. Go to Him for direction and energy and excitement. Spend time with Him and listen to the solutions He gives you. “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22) Be at peace, my dear Coastal families! You are in my prayers. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) In His service, Susan Truman 1/1/2013
Put on holy desires...A New Year is upon us and our minds are naturally going to goals for the New Year. We think of bad habits we want to get rid of, new habits we want to develop, weight we want to lose, improved organization for our homes, financial objectives we hope to achieve, and dreams we want to bring to life. May I suggest that at the root of all of our new year’s plans should be a desire to cultivate holy desires?
All of our grand goals are empty if they are not based on what God wants for our lives. If the motivation for these things is self-focused and not God-focused then we are bound to fail. As believers, we are new creations and our lives should look different from our non-believing friends and neighbors. Not only are we called to turn from sinful behaviors, but we are called to seek after godly ones. As parents and our children’s educators, we have a very serious responsibility to point our children towards lives consumed by a desire for holiness and not worldliness. Instead of falling into the easy trap of focusing on suppressing disobedience and selfishness in our children, let’s dedicate 2013 to elevating and encouraging our kids to seek after holy desires in their lives. Let’s keep at the forefront of our homes, the goal set forth in Colossians 3:12 & 14-
Let’s start the New Year and each new day by looking in our closet and putting on the holy desires of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! (Gal 5:22&23) Blessings in the new year! Susan Truman 12/1/2012
Hope...As I pause to prepare my heart for this Advent season, God keeps giving me a vision of a small wooden manger with the word “HOPE” rising out of it. I am surrounded by things that are fighting to spoil my Christmas joy this year - the recent death of a friend of mine in her 40’s, a suicide of another friend’s brother, a relative wrestling with drug addiction, another relative coping with job loss and a very ill wife with no health insurance, an aging parent in a deep depression, and a friend’s marriage which is crumbling. How thankful I am for that precious baby boy born in that manger who can fill my heart with hope and keep me from focusing on the sadness of these situations. I can have hope because I know my Savior loves me and is in control. As Scripture says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:18-19) I imagine you all are dealing with a variety of difficult situations too. I hope that during this Christmas season my little vision of a manger filled with hope helps to bring you peace and joy in the midst of whatever struggles you may be going through. I pray your homes will overflow with joy that can only come from the greatest gift of all-the assurance of eternal salvation through faith in our newborn Savior! Merry Christmas! Susan Truman 11/1/2012
Be Teachable...As I sit down to write this column looking for inspiration, my eyes keep going to the cast on my right arm that I got when I broke my arm on vacation last month and my mind wanders again to the question, “Why Lord? What lesson are you trying to teach me with this new challenge?” Since returning home from our trip, my energies have been consumed with trying to get my daughter caught up in all the schoolwork she missed while we were gone. Now, I guess it’s time for me to sit down and think and reflect a bit. Maybe it’s as simple as that-maybe God is just reminding me that I need to constantly be sitting as His feet as a student, seeking the lessons He wants to teach me.
As a homeschool parent, our thoughts are so consumed with what lessons we want to be teaching our children and whether they are learning them properly or not that it is easy to forget that we are students too. If you’ve been homeschooling very long at all, inevitably you’ve found that you learn all sorts of academic facts as you prepare to teach them to your children. But don’t forget about all the other lessons too-ethical, moral, spiritual… We want our children to develop a life-long love of learning; let’s remember to model that for them as we keep on in the role of student too. Don’t be too proud as to miss the opportunities to share what you’re learning in life with your children. Let them know that you’re learning too. Let’s all try to have a teachable spirit. Being teachable means that we say things like, "Tell me more. I want to understand your perspective,” "How do you see it?", "What could we do differently? What do you suggest?" "I might be wrong in my opinion. What do you think about it?" In other words, we are fellow explorers of truth & life, and not just debaters of positions. Being teachable also means that we ask ourselves “What can each person I come into contact with teach me? What can I learn from this person?” The bottom line is that being teachable means that I truly believe that God isn’t finished with me yet. Therefore I should offer myself to God in each and every circumstance and ask to be taught and shaped more into the image of Christ. My prayer for you- “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:17) So maybe that’s what this broken arm is all about… In His service, Susan |
AuthorThis is a collection of the reflections our principal, Susan Truman submits to our monthly newsletters. She is married to her college sweetheart and is a mother of three. She graduated two of her children from Coastal with her third child attending a special needs school. Archives
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