The Role of homeschooling

in Childhood Education
Lawrence O. Richards
Education begins at home
 Pattern in the Home
• “The fact is, no individual or family
comes close to perfection. We struggle,
fall short, constantly stand in need of
grace. We trust in God’s boundless
goodness as the real ground of hope
that our children will come to
faith.”(Richards, 264)
• “To communicate feeling for
experiences that are so natural a part of
living together that we seldom if ever
identify them as “teaching” or as
“nurturing.”(Richards, 265)
 Pattern in the Home

1. Communicating Belonging
2. Involving Participation
3. Facilitating Modeling
4. Providing Instruction as
Interpretation of Life
5. Encouraging Choice
1. Communicating Belonging
2. Involving Participation
3. Facilitating Modeling
4. Providing Instruction as
Interpretation of Life
5. Encouraging Choice
 Children learn what they live (274-275)
• If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
• If a child lives in hostility, he learns to fight.
• If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
• If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
• If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be
pliable.
• If a child lives with encouragement, he learns
confidence.
• If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
• If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
• If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
• If a child lives with approval, he learns to like
himself.
• If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he
learns to find love in the world.
Dorothy Law Nolte
 Hebraic Teaching Method
• Parents are to diligently instruct their
children to love God; obey His law; be
thankful to His blessings; and be separate
from the worship of the pagan gods. (Deut.
6:1-9)
• Parents are to teach by example, modeling
Bible standards in daily living – loving God
and loving others, and by being in prayer in
God’s Word daily. (Proverbs 23:26)
• Teaching involves using object lessons to
help children recognize that all of the
creation reveals God’s handiwork and
presence. (Psalm 19)
• Special weekly and annual days are set apart
for worship, and as members of God’s acts of
protection and provision. (Lev.23)
 Conclusion:
• The most important teaching method is
teaching by example.
• Children learn more from what parents
do than from what they say.
• Children learn by doing.