One of the main reasons we choose to homeschool is so we can incorporate teaching about the Savior into the other subject areas. We want to provide a learning environment that is faith-based, while also educating about science, math, art, technology, history, and life skills. I want my children to have an opportunity to be nurtured in those truths while they are young, so that when life gets harder, they will have a foundation to come back to, if they so choose. I know many families decide to keep faith and science separate, but for me, when I learn something in math, or science, or technology, it reaffirms and strengthens my faith in an omniscient and omnipotent God. We want our children to understand where they have come from, why they are here on Earth at this time, and where they are going. We want them to know who they are in relation to God, namely that they are His children and He has a beautiful plan for their lives.
Here are five ways that I incorporate Christ into our daily homeschool routines:
1. Morning Family Scripture Study
During breakfast time, we pray and read scriptures together. We discuss, at age appropriate levels, what we are reading, and what those words and stories mean for them. Everyone takes turns reading, which also helps the little ones who are learning to read, practice those essential skills. They actually become better readers because they are learning harder, often unfamiliar, words. Their self-confidence and feelings of family unity grow as we work through the scriptures together.
2. Devotional Time
After breakfast and getting ready for the day, we begin a short devotional time. We say positive affirmation about our divine identity and purpose. We work on memorizing a scripture, which we record once it is completed. We will often journal or color a picture about Christ from our morning family scripture study. Or we will read an uplifting story about other children living faith-based lives.
3. Reading
We usually have about an hour or so for aloud reading time. During the books, we will take time to relate the stories to characteristics of Christ or our beliefs, or talk about other beliefs. We learn about other religions, places, and ways of living. We also spend lots of time imagining, creating, and being silly as we explore those stories, to help tighten those family bonds.
4. Relate Subjects back to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
I try to relate the many subjects we cover back to God and our Savior. For example, as we study history, we talk about those world events in relation to Christ and other scripture timing. As we study science, we gain a greater understanding of God as our Creator and of His omniscience and omnipotence. In art we discuss the details of God's artistry and design in everything we see around us.
5. Serve like Christ
Service is a deliberate part of our homeschool. We learn about compassion, sacrifice, caring, and giving. We find ways to serve during school time, including making cookies for a shelter that cares for neighbors who are homeless, making cards for organizations that serve refugees and immigrants, donating clothes and toys, and taking food to friends and neighbors who need a meal. Usually once a month we will choose a local non-profit organization and spend an evening learning about their work, then find one way we can help in their cause or make a donation. This year we also decided to make school kits to donate to Church World Service as an added family project.
6. Pray for Guidance
Because God knows my children much better than I do, and also has a mission and plan for their lives, prayer is a big part of my homeschool planning. I pray every day for guidance, and I feel it! I am not perfect, of course, and we have many days that are not successful. But overall, I feel like we are moving forward in positive ways, because of the Lord's daily guidance and help.
Those are just a few ways I strive to bring Christ into our daily homeschool routines. I feel blessed to teach them, nurture them, and learn from them. And I feel His help and strength every single day.
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