How To Homeschool: Your Mission Statement Part 2

In our last post in this series, I used the WalMart Mission Statement as an example of a large and profitable company that is meeting its goals that has a very detailed Mission Statement laid out.

Where does one go to find this information about WalMart? To their investor's page. Why there? Because before an investor commits a single cent to the WalMart operation he must be sure that the values and the mission make sense, are in keeping with his values and that the values laid out seem like they are bound for success.

Are you planning to invest in your family homeschool? You bet you are! Far beyond just the financial outlay for homeschool books, curriculum and other resources, you are also investing your time, efforts and energy for your family homeschool.

Would you like to experience success in your homeschooling efforts? Before you quickly answer "Yes of course, what a stupid question!" let me tell you that if you had not yet defined how you will measure success or what you will consider a successful outcome of your homeschooling you can not possibly know if you were "successful" or not.

How unfortunate to get farther down your homeschooling road only to realize that things are not going as you wanted because you did not carefully consider what your homeschooling goals were. I have seen this happen to homeschool families and it is very sad and disappointing to both parents and children alike.

Before you invest, do your homework. Then let your prayerful consideration and conversations with your husband lead to put in writing your family's homeschool mission statement.

How To Homeschool: Your Mission Statement Part 1

I am frequently asked some variation on the question of "How do I get started homeschooling?"

I have given a variety of answers over the years but now I answer the question with a question: Have you and your husband formulated a mission statement for your homeschooling efforts?

What is a mission statement? It is a listing of the core values and purpose of an organization. The best mission statements include one main summary point, several core values to expand on the main point and measurable criteria as objectives to be reached.

Mission statements are most commonly used in the business arena but any group, institution or endeavor, such as a family homeschool, will benefit tremendously from a mission statement.

An example of well-known mission statement is that of WalMart:

Wal-Mart’s mission is to help people save money so they can live better.

This brief mission statement is expounded in the statement of WalMart's values:

1. Respect for the Individual
2. Service to our Customers
3. Striving for Excellence

Each of these core values in turn are illustrated with specific examples of and objectives for them.

Are you starting to see how you can make your decision to homeschool with a serious look to your values and goals?

In fact, you can not ask the question of "how to homeschool" until you have at least made a first effort at determining your family mission statement.

Please subscribe to this blog or check back here for the next installment in this important series.

Benefits Of A Homeschool Co-Op

Yesterday was the final day of our homeschool co-op, Deuteronomy 6, for this session. We will come back together in January. I will miss everyone that I may not see until then, although we do keep in touch through our e-mail group. Today, I am feeling a bit sentimental so I wanted to share some reasons why you might want to consider a co-op as part of your homeschooling strategy:

1. Co-ops can allow kids to explore their interests.
2. Co-ops give your children a chance to form friendships.
3. Co-ops allow moms time to fellowship and encourage one another.
4. Co-ops are great for sharing resources and talents in the homeschool community.
5. Co-ops allow moms to grown in their strengths as they teach and develop classes.

As I reflect on my not-so-comprehensive list, I realize that perhaps what I like most about homeschool co-ops is that they are great opportunities with benefits for both moms and kids. Our co-op is another way that me and my children learn and grow together. I am grateful that God has given us our co-op!

Be Radical!: An Election Response

The votes are in and the American public has voted for radical change.

What about you, Christian homeschoolers? Have you considered becoming radical in your homeschooling? Have you thought about:

--Educating your children about current events from a Christian perspective?
--Teaching your children that it is OK not to fit in and be like others? Do you model this belief yourself or do you prefer to keep up with others?
--Speaking out loudly and boldly for your beliefs and teaching your children to do the same?
--Helping your children find and cultivate friendships with other godly children by befriending other godly families?
--teaching your children a biblical worldview from the very beginning of their education?
-Using Christian curriculum to teach your children?
-Challenging your children beyond their "delight" and their preferred learning styles?

These are the challenges that my family and I are posing for ourselves post-election. We know that this will not be easy and it may become even more difficult under a new administration that is financed and backed by the nation's largest and most anti-homeschooling organization, the NEA. Despite these challenges we ask: Won't you join us? Let us persevere in raising a new generation to stand strong in the Lord and bring revival to the Christian faith in America.

Homeschool Store Updates

I am currently updating the new store. I have added more items to the Vision Forum, Answers In Genesis and Apologia Science pages and of course included on each page are links to allow to see all the products available through that publisher as well as a search box to allow you to search for specific items.

Come on by and take a look!

Visit the store at www.ChristianHomeschool.weebly.com.

Answers In Genesis On Sale

Answers in Genesis is offering substantial savings on their Creation Mini-Series DVD Pack.

Our family's faith has been strengthened and our minds have been challenged by our study of creation science which began with the Jonathan Park series by Vision Forum.

This set of DVDs looks like an excellent supplement for us and I love the fact that they are on sale.

Creation Mini-Series DVD Pack By Answers In Genesis

Urgent: Prayer Conference Call Tonight for Election

Prayer works!  Join Concerned Women for America (CWA) on a prayer conference call TONIGHT, Monday, November 3.  Details are below. Consider joining CWA. No matter what happens in the election, America will need the prayers of concerned Christian women.

Dear Fellow Believers:

Since October 22, 2008 we have been praying for our nation, our country, for the election and the election process.
Please join your voice with ours and be blessed in the process.  We have experienced evidence of prayers answered and blessed by voices from one coast to the other.
It is not to late, we can make a difference through corporate pray and praise to the King of Kings!
Below are the details.
Because HE lives,
Bobbi


"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

- Matthew 5:3-9
Logistics on the Conference Call:


Conference Call #    712-432-0600
 Access #: 1062266#
 Mute/Unmute: *6  when you are not praying please mute your phone.
 Time: 7:00 p.m. until   7:40 p.m.    Eastern Time
Dates: October 22nd until the vote is called.
 Housekeeping Issues:
·  If you do not feel comfortable to pray out loud, please join anyway.
·  Even if you don't have 40 minutes, please join us anyway for as long as you can.
·  Please forward this to anyone that is a prayer warrior.
·  The system has a regulator, so we will get a report on who called in, for anyone that  gets a hold of this email and may use it for unrighteous reasons. Remember the devil is not below anything!
·   We will be only praying for our country, its leaders, legislation, judges, a righteous      election, honest voting.  No personal requests, please.
    
Bobbi Radeck
Director CWA Ohio
513-545-2850
http://oh.cwfa.org