Click HERE to read the Overview of the Core, Mission, and Elements Homeschool Planning & Family Guide.
The C.M.E. Homeschool Planning & Family Guide – A Christ-Centered Approach
Introduction
When we begin homeschooling, the first question we ask is: “Where do I start?” Seasoned homeschooler friends will immediately recommend knowing your teaching style or suggesting a curriculum that worked for their family. The internet will tell you to establish a homeschool mission statement or understand how your child likes to learn. Those are all important things to know, but the first step must be knowing and establishing your family’s CORE.
LEVEL 1: The Core = Worldview and Values
The first level of the C.M.E. Homeschool Planning and Family Guide begins with the CORE. Your CORE includes your worldview, values, beliefs, and ideals that dictate thoughts, behavior, and day-to-day choices. Personal experience and views, ethnic backgrounds, politics, and religion can influence your CORE. For Christians, having a Biblical worldview rooted in Scripture and the Gospel message of Christ should be the primary influence on every aspect of our lives. Therefore, how we look at politics, evaluate past experiences, and treat others should stem from having a Biblical worldview (and not the other way around).
Below, we’ll establish two areas: 1) having a Biblical worldview in all things and 2) understanding what your specific family’s own values are based on what’s currently important to you.
A. How to Establish a Biblical Worldview & Christ-Centered Core Values
1. READ, STUDY, and meditate on SCRIPTURE.
Reading directly from Scripture is the best way to establish a Biblical framework and perspective in your life and family. God gave us his Word to learn more about who he is and how we should be living. Below are a list of 1) Biblical principles and 2) Biblical values worthy of consideration.
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES
a) God mandates the training of children in His way (Proverbs 22:6). Pursuing a Christ-centered life means living in a way that honors God. All aspects of family life, education, discipline, and community involvement must be guided by God’s standard and point the family and those around them to Christ.
b) God commands parents to disciple their children (Ephesians 6:4). Discipleship is a critical component to growth in Christ. Too often, parents have abdicated that responsibility to children’s ministry staff and youth pastors. In Ephesians, parents must diligently teach their children – continuously instructing them to pursue holiness in word and deed daily (not just Sundays).
c) God is Elohim, strong Creator, of everything (Genesis 1:1). The order we see in math, the creativity in a child’s handicrafts, and the consistency we witness in the sciences all point to God’s deliberate design. True knowledge comes from him, and him alone.
d) People are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).If God is “relational, creative, and personal” (D. L. Graham), then parents should construct academic experiences to cultivate those same characteristics in their students.
e) Everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23). We all fall short of perfect behavior. Humanity requires purposeful guidance, discipline, and instruction in a manner worthy of the Lord. Furthermore, raising children using Christ’s standard of grace and love should encourage parents to forgive the repentant heart. Parents must model Christian virtues, pursue meaningful relationships with each child, respond in love, and seek to resolve the root of a child’s misdeeds.
f) Scripture is a story of redemption and grace through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Parents must approach challenges and misbehavior with redemption and grace in mind. Verbal and physical responses should be packaged with Christ’s forgiveness and love, and the Gospel message should underpin all family interactions.
BIBLICAL VALUES
The 10 Commandments: Exodus 20
Proverbs and Wisdom: All of Proverbs
The Beatitudes: Matthew 5
The Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5
Family relationships: Ephesians 5
Walking in the way of love: 1 Corinthians 13
2. pray for spiritual growth & transformation.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your life that need growth. Biblical standards are high (and they should be), but thankfully, if you’ve accepted Christ in your life, he will continue to transform you daily to be able to love the way he loved and serve the way he served.
3. utilize other BIBLE-BASED LITERATURE.
Continue to expand your and your child’s understanding of Scripture by utilizing children’s storybooks and Biblical commentaries by Bible-based authors. Be vigilant because many materials labeled “Christian” are unbiblical and even blasphemous misleading readers to wrong ideas and offering poor explanations. By knowing what Scripture clearly says, you can filter through such problematic material. Thankfully, there are many Bible-based materials available to help explain the context of Scripture and elaborate on deeper topics to challenge wrong information. Click here for some materials I recommend both for adults and children.
4. make CHRIST the standard, and then model him.
Jesus is the Master Teacher. Jesus’s loving approach to children, the sick, the outcast, and his disciples is the perfect model of the teacher-student relationship. He nurtured the lost, mentored his disciples, and compassionately satisfied the physical and spiritual needs of the people. Jesus set such a great example everyone should be attempting to follow:
- Jesus was motivated to please God (John 5:18-47).
- Jesus was driven by purpose (John 3:16).
- Jesus served his disciples (John 13:1-17).
- Jesus, as a young man, was proactively learning (Luke 2:41-52).
- Jesus provided physical needs (Matthew 14: 13-21).
- Jesus provided spiritual needs (John 6:35).
- Jesus met people where they were, then encouraged them to go further (Luke 5:1-11).
- Jesus corrected and rebuked through love (Luke 9:51-55).
Model and talk about Biblical standards to your children. We will never be perfect in our thoughts and actions, nor will we always respond the right way towards our children. But we can showcase humility in our shortcomings by apologizing to them and point our children back to Jesus as our example.
B. Understanding Your Family’s Values
1. Let’s review!
Setting a Christ-centered foundation in our homes is the first step to our homeschool (and any) endeavor. Establishing a Biblical worldview, applying the Gospel message in your homes, and modeling Christ are standards we must consider if our pursuit for coram Deo (living in the presence, under the authority, and to the glory of God) is the focal point of our lives.
2. SPECIFY WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY VALUE
Moving forward, you can now consider your own family’s values or what you each and or altogether deem is important. This section will reflect your family’s unique personality. If your children are young, these answers may currently reflect just the parent(s). Some things to consider:
- Are there particular activities you focus on: career, sports, fitness, community, serving others, reading, travel, hobbies, etc.?
- Are there specific virtues you emphasize in your home: honor, courage, compassion, creativity, etc.?
- Consider categorizing values based on personality, career, finances, health, fitness, etc.
3. ASK WHY these areas are important
After considering what you deem is important, go back to each answer you created and the following questions:
- Why is this important to me (or us)?”
- “Why am I (or we) prioritizing/value this?” for each.
Your answer is important to know and recognize because:
1) They may be areas God can use to grow your family, serve those around you, and ultimately glorify Him.
2) There are areas or activities you may need to begin including or prioritizing so your family can connect in more meaningful ways.
3) Some areas may have become idols( things that detract you from focusing on God in your lives, distract your attention and pull you away from real priorities). If that’s the case, this is something you must pray for and ask for wisdom on how to approach. Then, maybe discuss it sincerely with your family if needed. The reality is anything can become an idol if not placed in the proper order of our lives.
HERE’S AN EXAMPLE USING MY FAMILY’S VALUES:
Since we’ve already established the Biblical virtues we desire to pursue for our family, here are some areas important to us and the reason why:
- Serving and participating in the new communities we move to because it’s how we find meaningful connections.
- Doing fitness-related activities helps keep our family healthy, is another opportunity to do something together (like cycling, swimming, running, hiking), and models a balanced, healthy lifestyle for our kids.
- Spending time outdoors offers a break from busyness, reconnection in our family, unstructured play, and the opportunity to experience God’s captivating creation.Creating things and handicrafts because it nurtures creativity and builds particular skills.
- Reading a wide range of good literature teaches real-life lessons, showcases particular virtues we want to cultivate and encourage, slows us down, and connects us as a family.
4. MOVE FORWARD BY TENDING OR REEVALUATING
Recognizing what areas are important to you will help you see what draws your attention and focus. This should then allow you also to recognize other areas that may need tending to or reevaluating if it takes too much time away from other priorities.
Your family’s values will influence your homeschool environment. Evaluating what’s important to you next will help build your mission statement in the second level of the C.M.E. framework.
CONCLUSION for Level 1
If you want to establish a Christ-centered homeschool, you must first begin with Jesus and Scripture in your planning process. It will be challenging to create a mission statement (level 2) or research curriculum (level 3) without knowing your worldview and values because those two things will directly influence your goals and the resources you will use. Knowing your CORE will help filter the plethora of information you come across and help prioritize areas specific to your family’s unique personality. Don’t rush and move on to the next level until you take time to establish your family’s CORE. Click here to begin crafting Level 2: The Mission.
CLICK the following links to review or go to the next level of the C.M.E. Homeschool Planning Framework:\
IN-DEPTH C.M.E. PDF Guide Available for purchase {APRIL 2022!}
The information above is a condensed version of the full C.M.E. Homeschool Planning and Family Guide that comes in an easy-to-read eHandbook version. It offers more research-based strategies, resources, and practical advice to implement in your home. It will be available for purchase by April 2022. Subscribe and stay updated. Visit the C.M.E. Framework page for more information.