A New Textbook - the "Fun" Book

I 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!
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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