Do you know a new homeschooler or someone who is considering homeschooling? Perhaps you are new yourself, homeschooling one year or less?

Join us Thursday, March 16, 2023, for New to Homeschooling Night with speaker Nancy Bjorkman from Heppner's Legacy. Nancy has over 20 years of experience and will share fresh ideas, how tos, encouragement, and more!

Afterwards, shop our convention vendor hall, browse homeschool options and get advice from some of our local homeschool community. Register online today!

Greetings PAACH homeschooling families. I hope this month finds you well and looking forward to the PAACH convention. Much is happening in our country and around the world as times grow more challenging for Christians. Animosity toward truth and morality grows daily. Meanwhile we are called to be light in this darkness, which puts us directly in the line of fire in this spiritual battle. I want to challenge you with two questions. Are you earnestly contending for the faith? (Jude 3) Secondly, are you preparing your children to be contenders?

The spiritual battle is all around us, but the most dangerous battles are happening inside the church. Scripture is clear that the biggest threat to the gospel is a false teacher. Paul, Peter, John, and Jude all warn of the dangers of false teachers who dilute the gospel and lead people on a path to death. Jesus also tells the parable of the Sower where he warns about those who would snatch away the seed of truth. (Matthew 13) I recently watched an episode of Wretched in which Todd Friel questioned why Christians are willing to protest and fight for political issues, but not as willing to protest and fight bad doctrine. His charge was that we are not facing the bigger danger which is far more damaging than the other causes that keep our attention. He contends that eternal souls are more important than political/moral issues, and that keeping a pure gospel should be a priority in every church and every home. Are you contending for the faith?

As parents, we should also contend for our children. We need to help them have a clear understanding of the gospel and give them ample opportunities to respond to it. We need to demonstrate God’s grace in their lives as we raise them up. We also need to teach them how to study scripture so that they may “rightly divide the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) We must teach them to have discernment (Hebrews 5:14) and to “test every spirit” (1 John 4:1) so they will recognize ‘truth-twisting’ and reject false teaching. There is no greater tool for learning discernment than knowing scripture. Get in the Word with them. Have conversations to work through bad ideas and the consequences that follow them. Talk with them about what they learned from Sunday school or the sermon. Train and equip them to be contenders for the faith.

The PAACH board is excited to offer this year’s convention. We desire to help and support you throughout your homeschooling journey. We also desire to help you disciple your children by providing encouragement, wisdom, and resources that will enable you to be Godly parents who lead your children towards Christ. We pray that your family learns together, grows together with others in community, and glorifies Christ in everything you do.

James Cox
PAACH President

Written by Rebecca Spooner

Many people come to me for answers. Whether that’s because I was a homeschool blogger, write curriculum, was homeschooled myself, or even because I have homeschooled my own kids for the past 10 years—they see my kids or little glimpses of my day and think to themselves, Clearly she is doing a better job than me. But the reality is that the biggest thing I have learned is I’m a hit-and-miss homeschooler. My track record is either winning or just about beginning! I am busy—juggling careers and companies and ministry and family and dropping nearly as many balls as I’m picking up.

Some days I know what I want; I know what I need to do, but life is just so incredibly inconsiderate of my plans. Doctor’s appointments, sickness, work, friendship, weather, attitudes... there are so many things that can affect our days that I can feel like I’m just along for the ride. Next week will be better, I tell myself convincingly. And then we have company show up or a cold hits the household.

But then we have these other days. Days when I check off everything on my dream list. Days when the kids are actually listening, and I am giving them my full, undivided attention. Days where I miraculously listened to my alarm (yes, the first in a series of 10) and got up early, had coffee, started dinner in the Crock-Pot, cleaned the house, had my quiet time, and worked—all before the kids cracked open their doors to the unforgiving dawn. These, my friends, are the days I live for. They make everything worth it, and I cling onto them when something unexpected comes and ruins all my plans.

If there is anything I have learned in these past nearly 11 years of homeschooling, it is that I have to be flexible. To move with the natural ebbs and flows of life and not set my expectations too unrealistically high or unattainable.

Why am I telling you this? Because I feel like someone has to. Someone has to come off the pedestal that they've been put on because no one sees what is behind their screen. Someone has to say, Wait! Don’t you dare think this is everything!” because for far too many for far too long, homeschooling has been a never-ending race, desperately searching for something that doesn’t exist... perfection.

You, with the Splinter of Failure in Your Heart

Someone out there is reading this article thinking that everyone else has it together but them. Everyone else must have something they don’t to be so patient, joyful, and successful at this. How do they do it? How well they must sleep at night without the crushing weight or anxious doubt that their kids might be struggling or falling behind because of their inconsistency! Someone out there has been quietly following all the homeschool “experts” and holding onto their co-op like a lifeline, hoping no one will find them out or say what they hope is not true (though they suspect it must be): that they can’t do this.

I am not here to tell you that you are perfect just as you are or that you should just accept your failures and settle. Homeschooling can be so much more—it can be fun and exciting and interactive and full of life and love and infused with joy. Instead, I am here to tell you that there is hope. Sure, I’m a hit-and-miss homeschooler, and my kids could probably be further ahead. Sure, I could devote everything to homeschooling and probably do a better job... but I do what I can with what I have been given. I have tasted and seen and experienced what a life-giving homeschool can look like, and I won’t settle for less nor will I condemn myself when school looks like a show and cuddles on the couch. I will continue to pray and ask God what matters that day and then accept when His ways don’t look anything like mine. I will trust Him to fill in the gaps.

Reach for More, Accept What Is

I aspire for greatness in my kids and in my homeschool journey, but sometimes my perception of greatness is the very thing that needs to change. Greatness can be listening to my 4-year-old tell me that God helped her when she was feeling scared. Greatness can be playing violin with my daughter and laughing at our mistakes. Greatness can be cleaning the house together and learning to buckle up, be more responsible, and contribute to the family. Greatness can be having a nap with my 8-year old when he is sick. Greatness can be the stuff in between too, and learning is happening all around us.

When we stop making school something we do and instead make learning a way of life—something that is infused into the very fabric of our days—that is when we start to experience breakthrough in our days.

So grab a cup of coffee, stop trying to impose what you think homeschooling should be, and find what it is. Don’t settle for your struggles—battle through them. But do it gently and have some grace for yourself. You are never going to be perfect—no one is! Instead, stop looking to everyone else to be your gauge and start seeing the beauty of what is in front of you. May we be a generation of homeschoolers who raise our kids with con dence and victory because we aim for greatness but are still willing to adjust our perception of what that is and leave room for God to direct our steps. That is the kind of hit-and-miss homeschooler that I want to be.

God, let me hit when I’m supposed to hit, and let me be okay with the miss when there’s something else you have for me instead.

Rebecca Spooner
Gather Round Homeschool

Rebecca is a homeschool mom of five kids, creator of Gather ‘Round Homeschool, owner of Homeschoolon.com, and author of More Than Words Bible curriculum. She is a second-generation homeschooler who is passionate about sharing her successes and failures... to be authentic and honest that this is not always easy, but it is possible. Join her for stories from the trenches of homeschool life that are relatable, funny, and all too true. And may you walk away with practical tools and strategies and a fresh new perspective to keep you going. Bring a cup of coffee; it’s about to get real.

 

We are always looking for families to join the PAACH board of directors or volunteer at one of the many PAACH events scheduled throughout the year. We ask that you prayerfully consider serving our homeschool community in one of these ways.

For more info about PAACH or to explore volunteer options, please email President James Cox at battlecircle@gmail.com

 

Written by: Israel Wayne

Has your decision to homeschool your children ever left you feeling tired, overwhelmed or stressed out? As a student who was homeschooled (my family began homeschooling in 1978), I have learned a few things and over the years about how to avoid burnout in your homeschool.

One of the most common reasons for weariness and frustration among homeschooling parents is the weight of self-inflicted deadlines and standards. It is good, of course, to have goals in mind, but we must always ask ourselves: “Am I seeking to do the Lord’s will, or am I merely pursuing my own agenda?”

As Christian families, we need to view homeschooling not as a glorious end, in and of itself, but rather as a means to an end. The main goal is to raise children who love the Lord, and are committed to following Christ. It is not to produce robots that can recite random facts and data at the drop of a hat.

What a child knows is really insignificant compared to what he or she believes. We must move beyond facts to convictions. It is vital that our children know:

1. What they believe.
2. Why their beliefs are true.
3. How to articulate their beliefs.
4. How to live their beliefs consistently

Getting the right answers on a test is meaningless unless a child knows how to apply those truths to everyday life. Non-applicable knowledge is worthless. As parents, we want our children to excel academically, and homeschoolers usually do. Our main motivation for homeschooling, however, should not be academic prowess. Instead, we should “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these (including academic) things will be added to us.” (Matthew 6:33)

We should always stay focused on our long-term goals, but we must consistently follow the leading of the Spirit. Why are we homeschooling? Our main objective should be to fulfill our God-given obligation to “train up our children in the way they should go.” (Proverbs 22:6) Psalm 78, Deuteronomy 6 and 11 and many other passages stress the importance of teaching God’s laws to our children.

What is the Purpose of an Education?

God’s primary reasons for commanding you to teach your own children are to:

1) Enable God to purify you (the parent), as you allow the fire and pressure of the homeschool setting to make you into pure gold.

2) To help your children know and love Him, and become prepared to serve Him.

God desires for us to have close family relationships, and He uses the process of family discipleship to develop Godly character in both the children and the parents. God has established and designed parents to be the primary influences in shaping their children’s values. Parents can’t expect to receive a Godly harvest unless they labor during the planting.

We must learn to view home education as a lifestyle decision, and not merely an academic alternative. Use every available moment to teach eternal principles. Developing a Biblical worldview in children is not something that happens by accident. It is taught by formal instruction and caught by the Godly example of the parents.

By keeping in mind that we are homeschooling because we want to raise children who love Jesus, we won’t be so frustrated if our child doesn’t understand Phonics or Chemistry. I’ve seen some mothers become so frustrated by their inability to communicate math facts that they scream at their children and throw books! In trying to teach academics, are we achieving our ultimate goal of developing Godly character? Nothing is so important that it overrides our relationships with God and each other.

It is also easy to get caught up in the busyness of activities, running our children here and there, and over-committing ourselves into panic. Are all the programs we are involved in bringing us closer to God and each other, or are they mostly wearing us out? We may need to recalibrate our compass. What does God expect of us?

“He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you. To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

If we focus on teaching eternal principles, and developing Christ-like character in our children, we will have academic success as a natural result of our obedience to God. We should not merely teach our children what to believe, but show them why our beliefs are true. They should be able to determine, from the principles in Scripture, what is good and what is evil. They should recognize absolute truths and be able to reason from a Biblical worldview.

By keeping obedience to God as our primary reason for homeschooling, we will have the flexibility to change our educational approaches, relax in the face of deadlines, and put family relationships above SAT scores. We can have a joyful, peaceful, loving family and still achieve an academic standard superior to the world; but we must keep Christ as the focus and avoid humanistic expectations.

 

Israel is a homeschool graduate and father of eleven who is passionate about defending the Christian faith and developing a Biblical worldview. He is the Director of Family Renewal and author of the books Answers for Homeschooling: Top 25 Questions Critics Ask, Education: Does God Have an Opinion, and Raising Them Up: Parenting for Christians, among others. More information may be found at familyrenewal.org.

Israel will be leading the following workshops at the 2023 PAACH Homeschool Convention

The History of the Homeschooling Movement - Session 1, Friday 10:30 a.m.

Transform Learning through the Art of Questions - Session 2, Friday 1 p.m.

Influence vs. Control: How to Best Motivate Your Child - Session 3, Friday 3 p.m.

Pitchin’ a Fit: Overcoming Angry and Stressed-Out Parenting - Session 1, Saturday 10:30 a.m.

Answers for Homeschooling: Top Questions Critics Ask - Session 2, Saturday 1 p.m.

The Biblical Basis for Parental Rights - Session 3, Saturday 3 p.m.

 

 

Greetings PAACH homeschooling families. I hope your family has started this year off well. This winter weather has been unusual, and the extreme temperature roller coaster has been frustrating for my family. Cloudy winter days can have a dramatic effect on moods and the overall atmosphere in your home. I want to encourage your family to find joy in the little things and to make laughter a daily goal in your home.

Remember that your main purpose in homeschool should be focused on discipleship and building relationships. Repetitive routines have their benefits, but so do spontaneous breaks. Look for opportunities in both to enjoy something together with each child. Look for what sparks their interest or gets them excited, and find a way to explore it with them. Sharing in their excitement is a great way to bond with them and encourage learning. These moments are also good times to talk with them about God’s design in creation.

I also want to encourage you to make laughter a priority in your home. Finding humor in everyday life has many benefits. Laughter can change a mood or the whole atmosphere in your home. Life is stressful and hard at times, and laughter can renew strength to endure (Neh 8:10) or bring healthy release in a tense situation. Laughing with your children and delighting in them makes you more like your Heavenly Father who “rejoices over you” and “takes delight in you” as well. (Zeph 3:17) Learn to enjoy your kids’ uniqueness. God has designed each of them with different character traits, abilities, and interests. Help them to see that God likes them because He made them who they are. Help them find their identity as His child, and to find safety and comfort in their relationships with Him and with you. Laughter is a valuable discipleship tool.

The PAACH board desires to help and support you throughout your homeschooling journey. We also desire to help you disciple your children by providing encouragement, wisdom, and resources that will enable you to be godly parents who lead your children toward Christ. We pray that your family learns together, grows together with others in community, and glorifies Christ in everything you do.

James Cox
PAACH President

 

We are excited for our upcoming convention - March 17 & 18. We have 2 great keynotes lined up: Kirk Smith, Executive Director of ICHE (Illinois Christian Home Educators), and Rebecca Spooner of Gather Round Homeschool.

We also have two featured speakers, Sonya Shafer from Simply Charlotte Mason and Israel Wayne from Family Renewal. There are some great kid friendly workshops including CPR, art classes, and some fun hands-on science classes with Dr. Fizzlebop!

Register by February 9 to take advantage of our early registration and for a chance to win a WCIC gift basket worth over $130, including an echo dot.

New this year, we have different lunch options. We have some young entrepreneurs who will be offering beef and chicken tacos and loaded french fries. We also have a full vendor hall lined up including Master Books, Heppner's Legacy, the Book Shelf, Lamplighter, Gather Round, and much more!

 

Greetings PAACH homeschool families. I hope you have been enjoying some summer adventures together. Our family had a good time at my oldest daughter’s wedding. We’ve also been very busy working on our new house and we have all been learning new things there. One big lesson we have all been learning together is the importance of diligence. Homeschooling and good family relationships require diligence. As many of you are likely preparing to start another school year, I want to share a couple encouragements.

In his book Studies in Character, Dr. Steve Scheibner says that “diligence is the difference between a job finished and a job well done.” For many of us, our nature is to just get the job done and worry about the details later. My family is seeing the results of skipped details as we renovate a 120-year-old house. Skipping details and maintenance leaves gaps and allows little nasties to get in and do damage. Much damage cannot be seen until something completely falls apart and must be rebuilt. Relationships are damaged and slowly destroyed by this approach because of the little nasties like bitterness and anger that can sneak in, eroding away our trust and love for one another. The point here is that when it comes to your spouse and your children, it is very important to pay attention to and take time for those little details. As your children grow and get a little older, they can become more capable of doing schoolwork themselves. Staying engaged with them in their learning can get a little harder, especially as you start tailoring some of their class choices toward their own individual interests. One of my boys is really into coding which is way outside my head space, but he still needs affirmation in what he is learning and who he is becoming.

Dads, we need to be diligent in affirming our kids and engaging them with the gospel. They need to know who they are in your eyes and, more importantly, in God’s eyes. Paul encouraged Timothy to be diligent in several very specific things. He told Timothy to “practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.” (1 Tim 4:12-15) Those things included: (v12) setting an example “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity;” (v13) devoting yourself to publicly reading scripture, encouraging, and teaching; (v14) using your God-given gifts. Dads, it is vital that you are diligent to lead your family in times of scripture reading and encourage them to respond to the gospel and grow in their faith. Moms, be diligent in nurturing the gospel seeds planted in your children at every opportunity throughout the day. Parents be diligent; love and encourage your kids to the best of your ability. Also, be diligent in your own studies as you look to scripture and other spiritual teachers to learn new ways to do all these things. I pray your family continues to grow together.

The PAACH board desires to help and support you throughout your homeschooling journey. We also desire to see your family thrive and be a testimony in this broken world. We pray that your family learns together, grows together with others in community, and glorifies Christ in everything you do.

James Cox
PAACH President

 

Cadhla Cox

Cadhla has been focused on completing her doula certification, which she started when she was 16. After graduation in May, she will be fully certified as DONA doula and serve the tricounty area. She started her own business, Mommas Little Blessings Doula Services, this year. You can find her on facebook and Instagram under her business name. Cadhla offers birth and postpartum doula services. She will be continuing her educational classes in Doula work.

 

Katherine Grace Kennelly

Katherine Grace Kennelly, daughter of Darin and Charissa Kennelly, graduated from high school. She enjoys playing the piano, reading books, working with families and kids, playing Ticket to Ride, and dreams of someday being a contributor to The Babylon Bee. Katie recently started a new position as Youth Services Assistant at the Brimfield Public Library. She plans to attend ICC or take classes online this fall to study social work, in hopes of working in the adoption/foster care field.

 

Braden Lawles

My name is Braden Lawles, and I have been homeschooled since kindergarten. In 3rd grade, my family joined Peoria Cooperative Academy, and it has been the highlight of my week for the past 10 years. PCA's History classes fed my intense passion for that subject, and the High School program has provided me with a fantastic learning experience alongside many incredible peers. I am also grateful for the many “extracurricular” classes that the high schoolers can take part in, such as Fall Play, Musical Theater, and Choir. I have also volunteered in the past to help at the annual APACHE (recently rebranded as PAACH) conventions (when your parents served as the President and First Lady of the APACHE Board, it was virtually impossible to avoid it) :). In my spare time, I like to read military history books, play historical board games, write parodies with some of my PCA friends, and generally annoy my friends and family with endless puns. I plan to take a gap year while working full time, then take ICC classes, probably transfer to Eureka College, and see where God leads me from there. I would like to get my Bachelor's (and eventually Master's) degree in History (which has been my passion since age 8), with the goal of eventually teaching at the high school or college level. One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 48:3, which says “Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.” It is comforting, amidst the constant change and uncertainty of this broken world, to know that God is our fortress no matter what comes our way. (Braden is the son of Brent and Becky Lawles of Morton.)

 

Joanna Moser

Joanna Moser, daughter of Greg and Sharlene Moser of Roanoke, plans to continue working at Caleri's and taking classes at ICC.

 

Justin Ricketts

My name is Justin Ricketts and I’ve been homeschooled my whole life except for 7th grade. But we don’t talk about 7th grade. High School at Peoria Cooperative Academy has truly been a blessing for me as I've had an amazing group of friends, teachers, and, of course, my parents to help me through the struggles and challenges of this life. As for my future plans, I’m leaning towards something tech related since I love working with and building computers and software to go with them. I pray that God will lead me in the right direction through the coming years. I trust Him fully to open the doors I need opened and close the doors I need closed.

 

Lexi Rae Sauder

Lexi Rae Sauder graduated with all the homeschool honors a mom and dad could give! She is attending ICC for high school English education and plans to transfer to a university in the fall of 2023. Lexi works part-time as a tutor, baker/decorator, housecleaner, and bookstore associate. She enjoys solitude with God, is a phenomenal piano player, loves Florida vacations, and teaches others with great success.

 

Daniel Stephen Ware

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Ware are pleased to announce the graduation of their son, Daniel Stephen Ware. Daniel will attend Illinois Central College in the fall as an education major. His goal is to transfer to a 4-year university to complete his undergraduate degree in middle school education and then find a position as a 5th grade teacher.

 

Greetings PAACH homeschooling families. The end of another school year is fast approaching, and some of you may be preparing to graduate a child from high school into the school of life. My second oldest is graduating in a few short weeks and I am not sure I am ready for this. (Maybe because it makes me feel older?) Others of you might be coming to the end of your first year of homeschooling. You are likely looking forward to a break from all the responsibilities and anxieties that can weigh on you. Either way, I am confident that much learning has taken place. I want to offer an opportunity to reflect on your reasons and goals for choosing to homeschool your children. I am going to point you to a few verses in scripture on obedience, faith, and grace. Then, I want to make several observations and invite you to meditate on these things and pray about any adjustments that you may need to make in your family.

God gives clear commandments for us to follow. One of those tells us to “Honor your father and mother.” (Ex 20:12) Paul rewords it to address children directly: “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Eph 6:1) Here’s my first observation: Has anyone else noticed that your children don’t naturally obey you? I know, you’re thinking “Thanks captain obvious for this brilliant observation.” Of course they don’t because we all have a broken and sinful nature. And yet, God clearly charges us as parents with the responsibility to teach and train our children to be obedient. (Deut 6:4-9) Why is teaching our children obedience so important? Is it just because of the promise that comes with it? I have recently begun to read through The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I was struck by a claim that he makes. He says that when it comes to faith in Christ there are two propositions that “hold good and are equally true: only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” He goes on to say that when Christ calls a person to follow Him, obedience is what makes faith possible, and faith is what makes obedience possible. My thought is this: If we do well to train our children in obedience, might they be better prepared to respond to Christ with obedience when He calls them? This could mean that how we teach them obedience is equally important. So let me remind of something else vital to remember as parents… our children need grace.

Ah yes, the costly grace of God that brings us to salvation. I am reading through another book to aid in the pre-marital counseling with my oldest daughter and her soon-to-be husband. It is the same book I referred to last month: When Sinners Say “I Do” by Dave Harvey. (Again, I will say this is an excellent book that has been both challenging and encouraging to me. I highly recommend it.) Dave has reminded me that God’s grace is not just a saving grace, but also a sanctifying grace. Paul tells Titus (and us) that grace does much more than bring us to salvation, but also “trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live selfcontrolled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-14) Kirk Smith just preached this very passage and very same message at our church recently. Here is the other thought I had: If our children see this grace at work in us, might they be more likely to recognize Christ when He calls them?

My conclusion is this, we may be tools of God’s grace in our children’s lives. God has charged us with the responsibility to “train up our children in the way they should go.” (Prov 22:6) While our training does not guarantee our child’s salvation, our training may be used by God as a part of the kindness that draws their hearts towards Him. Here is my challenge for you to reflect on: Does your discipleship of your children teach them obedience AND show them grace that prepares them to recognize and respond to Christ when He calls them?

The PAACH board desires to help and support you throughout your homeschooling journey. We also desire to help you disciple your children by providing encouragement, wisdom, and resources that will enable you to be Godly parents who lead your children towards Christ. We pray that your family learns together, grows together with others in community, and glorifies Christ in everything you do.

James Cox
PAACH President