Christian Based HomeschoolingMy husband and I didn’t decide to homeschool for religious reasons, but we’ve found that Christian based homeschooling is one of the main advantages of teaching our children at home. We are not religious scholars, so being responsible for our children's religious education has been a bit overwhelming. However, we are learning along with our children, and we love having the opportunity to pass along our values and beliefs, and clear up any untruths our children may encounter. Christian Homeschool ResourcesChristian based homeschooling will look different from family to family. While I admire homeschoolers that can commit to lengthy daily devotionals, I know that would only last a few days in our home. In addition to using a Christian curriculum, we’ve found simple ways to integrate Christian values into our home school. Here are some components of religious instruction in our home, along with information about our favorite Christian homeschool resources:
1. DoctrineEvery morning after breakfast, my children and I read a lesson from Leading Little Ones to God: A Child's Book of Bible Teachings . This book teaches children the basics of the Christian faith in an age-appropriate manner. It begins by teaching children about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It then teaches about sin, becoming children of God and how we should live as children of God.The book’s lessons are short and written in a way that speaks to both younger and older children. My elementary school student looked forward to the lessons, and I was surprised to see how much my preschooler retained. When my daughter 3, we read a lesson that discussed Moses asking God if he could see His glory. A few days later, my daughter's ballet teacher asked her if she knew about God, and she said, “Yes. God is holy and if you look at Him you will die.” (Great summary, dear!) Another great resource for Christian based homeschooling is a question and answer, catechism program like Doorposts' Catechism for Young Children. 2. The BibleWe think it is important for our children to understand that the Bible is God’s Word and should be their main source of instruction. Every morning after reading Leading Little Ones to God, my oldest child reads a passage of scripture directly from the Bible.Right now we read the passage that was featured in our lesson. We may eventually move on to reading a chapter of Proverbs a day or reading passages that deal with character issues we’re addressing.
In addition to reading from our Bible, we are memorizing the books of the Bible in order and learning how to locate specific passages. As my children get older, we’ll teach them more about specific books of the Bible, their writers and the context in which they were written. We'll also teach them how to use Bible study helps such as a concordance, dictionary, commentary and atlas. 3. Scripture MemoryThe Bible tells us to hide God’s Word in our hearts and meditate on it day and night. Memorizing scripture keeps us from sin, provides us with encouragement, and allows God’s Word to direct us even when we don’t have a Bible nearby.I vividly remember many of the verses I learned as a child, and I believe there’s no better time to memorize scripture than when children are little. Right now, my children are learning a verse of the Bible for every letter of the alphabet, and they enjoy reciting these scriptures together after breakfast, before meals, and as we take walks during the day. Once we’ve made it through the alphabet, we’ll memorize favorite passages of scripture like the Ten Commandments, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 23 and 1 Corinthians 13. Some of my favorite scripture memory resources are from Scripture Memory Fellowship. 4. Praise Songs and HymnsLearning praise songs and hymns is an often overlooked component of Christian based homeschooling. Playing Christian music is a great way to start the morning, provide entertainment during playtime and car trips, and encourage relaxation during quiet times.
 . For now, we love starting our mornings with the gentle, uplifting sounds of Praise Baby Collection: God of Wonders 5. Christian BooksI’m a big believer in the phrase "garbage in, garbage out", so I really make an effort to choose reading materials that promote Christian values. We have a collection of Bible storybooks, stories that demonstrate Christian values and character, and biographies of heroes of the faith.Some of our favorites are A Hive of Busy Bees and The Miller Series. You can find these, and other great character-building books from Grace and Truth Books. We also make an effort to fill our home with science books that speak to God's hand in creation. Some of our favorite science resources are Christian Liberty Nature Readers In addition to exploring some of the Christian homeschooling resources above, you can create a Christian based homeschooling environment by posting scriptures on your walls, praying through the day and weaving your values into everyday discussion. Follow this link to find information about choosing a Christian homeschool curriculum. Return from Christian Based Homeschooling to Christian Homeschooling Return from Christian Based Homeschooling to Successful Homeschooling
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