Homeschool Habits: 7 Proverbs to Help Keep Your Homeschool Running Smooth!

Some days are worse than others!

Let's face it! We cannot have an ideal homeschool day every day! Here lately, I haven't had a single one! Things happen. Life happens. So, what can we do to get back to the basics?  What can we do to make sure our days will run smoothly?

In my 4 years of homeschooling, I have found these 7 Proverbs and tasks to be tried in true in having a smooth running day.

1) Prayer - Proverbs 15:33 "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."
Daily humble yourself before God in prayer and recognize that apart from Christ, you can do nothing. Call on God to help you throughout your day to keep your focus on Him. Pray for your children! Pray God will open their minds and hearts to receive what they will be learning that day and pray for any specific needs your child may have. (Here are a few posts I've written on prayer)

2) Devotion - Proverbs 4:20-22 "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh."
I cannot stress this enough! I know this is the hardest thing for a Mommy to get done! The simplest way to make sure this happens is to wake up 30 minutes earlier!  I know it's hard but the Lord will bless your efforts! Do NOT skip this! Sometimes I let my morning get away from me and I am tempted to keep on trucking. I have to stop myself and make myself steal away for a time of devotion. Sometimes this means backing everything up 30 minutes, getting 3 kids busy on something, and hiding! Just do it!

3) Know Your Teaching Style - Proverbs 16:20 "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he."
I didn't realize how important this is until I saw a friend try to do things that were not in her nature to do. Homeschool friends are great but we are all passionate about what we are doing individually. I am always careful to share with new homeschoolers because I have seen how easy it is to latch on to what others are doing. Handle this matter wisely and you will see the good! Know your style and stick to it!

4) Be aware of your time - Prov 27:23 "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds."
I Do Not use a timer!  I know I'm breaking homeschool protocol!  But I do not want my child's learning time to be defined by the sound of a timer going off! However,  I am always aware of what time it is and how long we've been working on a task!

 

5) Use a bell to regroup - Proverbs 1:5 "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels."
We are constantly splitting up and regrouping throughout the day. I found a cute service bell at a local store a few weeks ago and we are loving it. When I need everyone to come back together for whatever reason, I ring the bell. Simple! It has helped with first time obedience and following directions! Keep it interesting. Don't let every time you ring the bell be for giving directions....they'll stop coming! Change it up with a "drop everything, we're going to the park"! Or hand out candy! Or sing a song. Take a walk. Have fun with it!

6) Be flexible - Proverbs 10:16 "The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin."
Leave time to tend to life because life happens whether you're ready or not! Sometimes we all just need a break! Sometimes people drop by! Sometimes the dishwasher breaks and there's water all over the Kitchen floor...true story! Don't let it ruin your day (like I almost did)! Take care of business and pick up where you left off!

7) Make lists for each child - Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
If they don't know what is going on, you'll loose them completely! A while back I found myself telling my kids over and over what we were doing that day. I started making lists for each child (read more here). It takes me about 15 minutes to make my list and three children's lists each night. They know what's going on, what's expected of them, and where to look for their next task when Mommy's not available. It has encouraged responsability and independence in our home! (You can read about my children's lists here)

I hope these verses have helped you as much as they have me! Keep strong. Keep it simple. Keep praising God for the opportunity to homeschool! It is truly a gift!

What are some verses that have helped you keep things in perspective?

Promises-And all of Them True!

"Go on praying-pray without ceasing."  that's what Elizabeth Prentiss's mother told her. Elizabeth was struggling with her tempor just as her mother used to. When asked how she overcame her anger, she answered...prayer!

Is it just me or has this world gone mad? Seems like everywhere I go people are mad. They're mad because they have to wait in line. They're mad because they are late. They're mad because they hit a pot hole and then thethey're mad because traffic is stopped when D.O.T. is fixing the pot hole. They're mad at the waitress because she hasn't refilled their drink. Meanwhile she is waiting on 20 tables without help. Do you get what I'm saying? People are impatient, impolite, and inconvenienced. 

Think about it...we have reduced ourselves to having to make time to do a random act of kindness. Please don't get me wrong here. A little kindness goes a long way. I believe that. But I remember a time when people waived at everyone driving by. And when everyone smiled at eachother in passing. I smiled at a lady in the grocery store today and she turned and looked behind her as if it shocked her that I was smiling at her. 

Ok I will get off my little soap box now and get back to the book. 

So her mom answered and told her to go on praying.  This brought to mind some wonderful scriptures.

I Thessalonians 5:17 "pray without ceasing." 

I Chronicles 16:11 says to "seek his face continually"

Eph 6:18 "Praying always..."

Luke18:1 "...that men ought alway to pray, and not to faint."

I believe Mama Prentiss knew her Bible don't you? All of these scriptures speak of praying continually.  Or in Mama Prentiss' words... "Go on praying-pray without ceasing!" 

Now Mamas like to teach their children something and I believe this Mama was not only teaching prayer but was teaching the promise of prayer. Remember Elizabeth Prentiss' goal is to not have such a temper. Elizabeth knew that her Mom not only gave her an answer but it was also a solution to her problem. A promise that if you do this, that will be taken care of.  

Let's look at some promises God gives us concerning prayer.  

Luke 11:9 "And I say unto you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. " 

John 15:7 "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be opened unto you.

James 5:16 "...the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Those are great promises from our Lord.

And He can't break a promise! 

I will close this post with some words from a favorite song.

Promises

He didn't promise that I would never stumble.

But He did say He'd catch me if I fall. 

He didn't tell me He'd hear complaints I whisper.

But He did say He'd hear me when I call.

Promises Promises

And all of them true. 

He's done exactly what He said He would do.

He didn't tell me my heart would not be broken. 

But He did say He'd mend it again.

He didn't tell me my cross would not be heavy. 

But He did say, that He my load would bear.

He didn't tell me, He'd grant my wants and wishes. 

But He did say, He'd hear my earnest prayer.

Lord, help us Mommies!

How many times a day does your child say "Mommy"?

I asked Jeeves and he didn't know either. But, I would have to say it is innumerable. It's 2015 and I have a 5 year old boy, a 7 year old boy, and an 8 year old girl and sometimes it seems like I hear it every 10-15 seconds.

The truth is...we hear it a lot. Some days we answer the first time with a yes mam/sir, or yes sweetie. Other days, we answer on the 3rd call with a WHAT!

Come on ladies, let's be honest here...we are not always those sweet little perfect people that we portray ourselves as on various social media and on our blogs.