What do they need to know?

If They Need It, They Will Learn

Way back when, when we started on our homeschooling adventure we sat down and wrote out our goals for our children’s education.  We did it again after we had a couple of years under our belt and our philosophies had changed.  Whenever I’d have a bad day and start doubting why I was doing this, all I had to do is check those goals and I’d remember that teaching long division was not a goal and we would get through this.

In all the time we’ve been homeschooling, I’ve read pretty much everything there is to read about homeschooling.  I even read several homeschooling magazines.  Yet, in all that time I’ve never read a set of goals that were similar to our own.  Until a couple of weeks ago, when I picked up the latest Home Education Magazine from the library.  Of course, I would add that they need to practice the habit of reading scripture and praying daily.

Here is an excerpt from Tamra Orr’s article, including her wonderful list of what children NEED to learn:

The incident <her child did not know anything about Jimmy Carter> did make me sit down and do an evaluation of what my children need to know and what they don’t.  I cam up with this list:

1. They need to know they are loved and appreciated.
2. They need to know how to communicate with others and us.
3. They need to know how to stay as safe as possible in this world.
4. They need to know how to read and do basic math.
5. They need to have many different experiences with people, life, and the world.
6. They need to know themselves well enough to know what and whom they want in life.
7. They need to know it is okay to reach out and help or be helped by other human beings.
8. They need to know that compassion will get them much further in life than resentment.
9. They need to know that while they are each monumentally important, most of the time “it is not all about you.”
10. They need to develop the self-confidence and self-esteem that will carry them through life’s rougher moments.
11. They need to know that they can achieve anything they want if they set their minds to it.
12. They need to know that the world is an exciting, diverse place full of endless opportunities for joy, laughter, and success.

 <snip>

We have the chance to fill our children’s heads with the ‘big picture’ material, rather than the capitols of all the states, the multiplication tables, or the names of all past presidents.

Writing out a family education mission statement or educational goals may not seem important, after all you have them in your head, right?  In reality, on those dull, dark days of December (okay… more like January or February, but I had that whole alliteration thing going on and didn’t want to ruin it…) you will NOT remember why you are doing this!  You’ll have doubts, you’ll run for the chocolate….  If you have your goals written, you can whip them out, read through them, be rejuvinated, and then eat your chocolate in celebration!