Ivy's Site

    Most of the time, people approach me asking about homeschooling. It’s a topic I’m very excited to talk about and will be willing to spend hours on. My only regret is that I’m not always available to talk because my time is committed 8 to 5 to teaching my kids.

 So, for most of you who want to know more about it, I’ve created this multiply to somehow give you a picture of what it is about. This may not be the model or the perfect picture but hopefully, you’ll see that if a mom like me with no education background can do it, you can too!

I have been homeschooling for ten years now since David was in grade one. He is now in grade 8, Gabrielle is in grade 6 and Daniela is in grade 4.

MY DILEMMA
When I decided to homeschool my kids, the first fears I faced was the feeling of inadequacy. I was not an education degree holder and I was inexperienced in teaching. I only taught in Kids Church, I dont know if that counts. I felt I was putting on a hat that was way too big for me to wear. I felt I will be responsible if they learn or not. What if they don't learn anything?

FAITH & SKILL
One of the first lessons I learned early on in my homeschool is that you need faith + skill to fight those inadequacies. I needed to hear God's will and I needed to upgrade my skill.

Eccl. 10:10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.

The faith part, I had but the skills I know I had to look for elsewhere.

One of the first things I did was to homeschool myself  as a teacher and learn from homeschool parents. I visited schools and montessori programs to get myself acquainted with what they do in school.


IF YOU CAN READ, YOU CAN HOMESCHOOL
One of the greatest discoveries I had from visiting schools was that teachers had "scripts".
If actors had scripts, cooks a recipe book, teachers had a curriculum. If you know how to read, then you can deliver.

Teachers had everything written down for them in everyday lesson plans-- from introducing the lesson to  discussion, worksheets, hands-on activity, quizzes and even answer keys.
Objectives have been laid out and it is clear what are the goals and expected results.

IT’S NOT ALL ACADEMICS
Those visits to the school helped boost my morale and confidence that I could very well do what they are teaching given the grace from God. The teachers taught only academics but I can teach them more. I can teach them character while pursuing the academics. The teacher taught them in the confines of the classroom, I can show them the world.

STOP LOOKING AT YOURSELF AND START SEEING THE VISION
I stopped looking at my inadequacies and started looking at the great potential homeschooling can give my children.  I saw the great opportunity to be with them to impart our faith and values, and train them for what God wants them to be. After seeing  what was important, I realized, indeed, I am their greatest teacher.