Never let your schooling interrupt your education.

Back to Basics: Keeping School Simple

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Written by Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool and founder of Steady Mom

A note from Jamie: As we start to head into the holiday season, it’s good to remember how to scale back in our homeschool–how to remember the most important things and let go of the rest. This post originally published on November 15, 2010.

Schooling at home relieves us of many complications that traditional schoolers face: There’s no rushing kids to the bus stop, no packing lunches the night before, and no after school pickups required.

But sometimes the complications in homeschooling arise from within–from the knowledge of the overwhelming responsibility we have taken for our children’s education. If results don’t turn out as planned or hoped, there’s no school system or mean teacher to blame.

Often, in my own life, it can be my fears and insecurities that complicate matters.

That’s why we need reminders of how to keep school at home simple. What is actually needed and required? What is beneficial and a blessing in our family?

Constant tension in a home is not what most of us had in mind when we signed up for this gig. Therefore we need to accomplish what is truly important and let go of unrealistic, unnecessary expectations.

Here are three ideas that help me to do just that.

1. Books and Math

This post, The Bare Minimum, comforted me to no end when I read it two years ago. Jena, a former contributor here who recently finished her homeschooling career with flying colors, wrote it.

In her post Jena suggests that the bare minimum a family should do is to surround your children with literature and to do math at least once a week. The rest of the hours in the day can be spent exploring a child’s own educational interests.

Jena knows what she’s talking about–having graduated two students to the colleges of their choice and having one daughter who is thriving in public high school after spending her previous years at home.

2. The 7th Grade Reminder

Last April I heard speaker and writer Joyce Herzog give several inspiring messages at a homeschooling convention I attended. She has decades of experience in the traditional school system and now consults for homeschooling families.

Joyce said that 90% of what a child learns before they enter 7th Grade (Age 12/13) will be forgotten. This tells me that before that age, our main focus as parents should be creating an educational atmosphere in our homes, rather than focusing on specific skills or information. Of the utmost importance is to help our children retain their love of learning, so that after 7th Grade they’ll be self-motivated to continue learning.

3. Leadership Education Goals

A year ago I printed out the three goals for a leadership education parent and included it on my daily routine. This list inspires me immensely, especially when overwhelming days arise.

The three jobs of a leadership education parent are:

1. Develop, nurture, and heal family relationships.
2. Create an inspiring environment.
3. Respond effectively to your children’s inspiration.

Sound easy? It is! I know I can accomplish those goals, and if I can–so can you.

When those homeschooling fears rear their ugly heads to threaten you, tell them to head back where they belong. Remember that the investment you’re making into the lives of your family will reap an awesome return in the near future.

What steps do you take to keep school simple?

About Jamie C. Martin

Jamie is an introverted mom of three, who loves books, tea, and people (not always in that order), and avoids answering the phone when possible. She co-founded SimpleHomeschool.net in 2010 and began IntrovertedMoms.com in 2020.

Jamie is the author of four books, including Give Your Child the World (reached #9 on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers list), and her latest release, Introverted Mom (an ECPA bestseller). Her work has been featured by LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow, the Washington Post, Parents, Today Parenting, and Psychology Today.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julie

    Yeah! I have a tendency to feel like a “slacker mom” with my relaxed school days and minimal requirements (math, reading, sometimes writing). It just feels right, however, and it’s nice to have someone else back me up.

    One of the ways we keep it simple is by staying home. No extracurricular activities, clubs or sports. The one morning a week at CC is enough to wear me out, and it’s simpler for me to stay put (I also believe it helps to teach the kids to entertain themselves rather than looking for something new and different around town).

  3. Kimberley Byrd

    Oh you don’t even know how much I needed this post today, it must be from God! This is my second year of homeschooling and we are missionaries living in Mexico. There are no other homeschoolers around me and I have just felt so worried about their education. I love our curriculum but quite honestly it seems the math is just going too fast for them (1st grade and kindergarten) . They seem to be struggling with subtraction and one of my daughters gets so frustrated she just throws her pencil..sometimes at me:) I can hardly blame her….I should have slowed down awhile back and not waited so long. New homeschoolers need to read things like this….it is an assurance that the things my girls are learning by living in different foreign countries is “learning” also. From the bottom of my heart…thank you for writing this post. It took me several times to read it without tears blocking my vision:) God bless you!

  7. melyssa

    This was absolutely wonderful! I woke this morning with homeschooling pressure on the brain; simply because it’s monday and that’s the start of a whole new week where I will let myself down and not “do” enough to educated my kids. Deep in my heart, I just want to do the 3 Rs and let the rest fall where it may! I hate the guilt I feel for not teaching latin, or art, or have weekly spelling bees…I hate feeling overwhelmed and sad when it seems every other h.s. mom “does” so much more…do i really have to teach them social studies? or violin? or spanish?
    And the 7th grade fact is amazing. Also explains why i don’t know the facts I supposedly learned in the early grades…!

  9. Kim

    Thank you so very much for this post! I am easily discouraged home schooling our three young kiddos. We moved to a small remote town in Montana last year due to my husband’s job. We are the only ones homeschooling and it is so HARD. But we firmly believe it’s the right choice for our family. Your post today has truly lifted my spirits. Merci!

  11. Kelly

    Jamie, thank you SO much for sharing your heart in this post! I’m a former Kindergarten teacher turned homeschooling mama and am in my first year of homeschooling. I seriously have days (I also have a 2 year old and a 3 month old in addition to the 5 year old that I’m HSing) that I get really overwhelmed – I’m constantly wearing, holding and nursing a baby, wrangling and trying to create great experiences for my two year old, and fostering a love of learning and doing lessons with my five year old. I feel like I have to do so MUCH with homeschooling to make sure that my kiddos learn, but the whole reason that we went this path in the beginning was 1.) to foster our children’s relationships with the Lord and with one another as top priorities, and 2.) allow them to develop their love of learning in a comfortable, inspiring, creative environment. I have to remind myself of those two objectives quite often but they always bring me down to earth…or up to heaven. :o) I like thinking about it that way much better! Thanks again for the great post and wonderful reminder of why this important work is important – and why stress does NOT have to overwhelm this journey!

  12. Heidi

    Once a week math? I know some kids that would like that rule.

    In relation to the 90% forget rate – I always tell moms that your children might not remember what you teach them but they WILL remember HOW you treated them.
    Heidi’s latest post: Online Phonics Program

  13. amber

    This post was so encouraging for me to read today! I am wondering–is there any way to get access to the “Bare Minimum” post from Jena’s blog? When I clicked on the link, it said the blog was by invitation only . . . I sure would like to read more of this! Really needing this kind of simplicity right now. Thanks so much!

  14. Sorcha

    Hello – I would dearly love to read the article, The Bare Minimum, that you reference, but it appears her blog is invite only. Is there a way to read it somewhere else?

    Thanks!

  15. lanaleigh

    I love simplicity and the idea of having a strenuous, rigorous daily schedule doesn’t sound simple to me. There are all types of temperments and mine really prefers more of a weekly rhythm. 🙂 This article mirrors my general philosophy to enjoy the process and trust that our kids are benefiting as the world is their classroom and we enjoy learning along with them. 🙂

    AND, on the debated topic of the 90%, I suspect that much of this can be overcome with repetition and duration (teaching the same materials each year with greater depth) as opposed to completely new material each year. http://www.classicalconversations.com
    lanaleigh’s latest post: house vs home

  16. Erin

    Even though this was written awhile back, it sure helped me tonight. Newbie homeschooler that needed to read this. Thank you so much:)

  17. Elaine

    I love this! So encouraging when my 10 year old is dragging his feet through history or when life gets busy and I can’t finish all that we had planned for the week. I certainly don’t remember most of what I learned before 7th grade, kind of sad, in a way. That definitely takes the pressure off. (What happens when we reach 7th grade though? I am nervous for those years ahead when it “really counts”)
    Elaine’s latest post: Thanksgiving Art, Science, and Thankfulness project