When you first start homeschooling, one of the biggest concerns that occupies every mom’s thoughts is, What curriculum do I buy? Figuring out what to use for homeschooling can become a major fixation. Choosing a good curriculum is an important aspect of homeschooling, but after homeschooling for a few years, I would like to say that while the curriculum is important, consistency from mom (or dad) is even more important. The curriculum is simply a tool, but how you use it, and how often you use, play an even bigger role.
Why Consistency Matters
Having consistency in homeschooling habits is an important trait to have when homeschooling. It shows children that school work is not dependent upon how you’re feeling. No homeschool day will ever be perfect. I still have yet to have one. It’s normal for me to have my toddler climb on the table, another kid to drop a snack on the floor, and then someone to call or text me during a lesson (I keep my phone away from me during school for this very reason). Since we live in a world with sin, there’s no reason to assume my day will be perfect while I homeschool my kids. However, we continue doing school. We do math whether we want to or not (I do let me my kids have sick days. I don’t want to sound like an insensitive mom).
Why Consistency Helps
If we are consistent with doing school four or five days a week (we have co-op one day a week and four days of homeschool), then complaining will most likely diminish. Routines, no matter how small they are, can eliminate behavior problems. If mom does school only when she feels like it, then school is something to argue about. If mom is consistent and does school on a regular basis, then there’s less of a reason to argue.
My kids like having a routine for the day. It’s not a strict routine, but rather a flow. After breakfast, we clean up, brush teeth, make beds, and then start school. When we take a break from school and start up again, my kids tend to think that school is an option. It doesn’t last for long, but I share that to show that routines can really help kids argue less and get more work done.
Consistency and Personalities
Years ago, I used to be into personality tests. I thought it was fun to categorize people based on their traits (I like organizing!). I’m not much into it anymore, but I have noticed that some personalities find being consistent in homeschooling easy, and some personalities struggle more. It doesn’t mean that the mom who struggles more can’t homeschool, but it does mean that there’s a weakness that needs to be addressed. Homeschooling, like a lot of things in life, shows us our weaknesses. If successful homeschooling is to occur, then faults, like a lack of consistency needs to be fought against.
Consistency and Growth
Imagine if you sent your child to school and found out that the teacher only taught math when the day was going well, or when he or she felt like it. You would probably be upset. Obviously, homeschooling is different than traditional schooling, but an inconsistent education, whether traditional schooling or homeschooling, is not going to contribute to much growth. Consistent math lessons build on each other. It’s hard for a student to learn math if the lessons are only here and there.
Another aspect to consider is that inconsistency leads to getting behind. Some homeschoolers say you can never be behind. You learn at your own speed. That’s one great part of homeschooling – you can learn at your own speed. However, if a child is behind in schooling because no one consistently did math or reading with him, then that’s another story.
Consistency is Everything
Sometimes it’s the simplest things that make all the difference. When it comes to learning, consistency in homeschooling is one of those things. It can start small. If you have a kindergartener, it means spending about an hour every day doing reading and math. A new reading curriculum might not answer your problems, but rather being diligent to read aloud, teach phonics, and do math, even if your day is off to a bad start, might do the trick. I have to remind myself every now and then, that diligence and consistency bring about some of best rewards in life.
Thanks for reading!