I remember when I first began our homeschool journey reading articles from others that you should have a mission statement and set goals for your homeschool. I didn’t really think much of it and never did it.
I now understand why it is something you should do.
I had a mission statement when I was a teacher. Why I felt I didn’t need one in my homeschool is beyond me. There are many benefits of a homeschool mission statement. Read on to see what they are.
What Is a Mission Statement?
Your Dictionary defines a mission statement as “a formal summary of values and goals to clearly outline who the company, group or person is and what it wants to do.”
Okay. So how does this apply to homeschooling?
For homeschooling, it means determining what your goals and values are for your homeschool. If someone asks you why you homeschool, what would you say?
For my family, we homeschool to provide an education tailored to meet our kids’ needs, instill a love of learning, and to show our children learning takes place all around you all the time. These are our goals and values for homeschooling.
You probably have your own reasons you homeschool. Some families want to teach and nurture their
Whatever your mission is for homeschooling, write it down. As the years go by, you will need this mission statement for a few reasons.
Why is a Mission Statement Important?
Keep You Focused and Help Guide Your Decisions
A mission statement helps me focus when I am planning out our school year or our work week to week. It guides me in my curriculum choices and what activities we get involved in.
I want my kids to understand that learning is all around them. To accomplish this, it doesn’t make sense to sit at home day after day doing worksheets. That isn’t going to help me meet our mission for homeschooling. So I look for quality opportunities for us to get out and learn in the “real” world.
It is good to review your mission statement throughout the year and ask yourself if the choices you are making are helping you meet your goals for homeschooling. See if the things you are including in your day are meeting the values you hold for your kids. If not, change your curriculum, add new things to your homeschool, or get rid of activities that aren’t a good fit.
For the Tough Days
Tough days? What tough days? Homeschooling is all smiles and dutiful children that get along all day. Right? I wish!
Believe me, when it is one of those days (or one of those weeks or one of those months) that you are burnt out and threatening your kids they are going to school, you need a mission statement.
In the tough times, you need to whip out that mission statement and review why you are homeschooling. Look at why your family chose to take this path in life. You chose this journey because you felt YOU were the one that could make these goals happen. If you thought someone else could, you would have picked that option.
I struggle, at times, with my son because he is what Dr. Sears calls a “high needs” child. He needs far more than other kids like far more attention than others. His reactions are more over the top and more exaggerated than they should be.
It. Gets. Hard.
On those days, I need to remind myself that no matter how tough it gets others will NOT be able to fulfill our mission for our kids.
Stop the Comparison Trap
Think of the other families you know. Some families may homeschool, some may send their children to public or private school. Each family has reasons for why they made their decision. Are they all the same?
NO.
So when you start second-guessing your decisions and thinking maybe someone else is doing it better, take out that mission statement. Your goals are not exactly the same as your neighbors. You will reach them in a way that is best for YOUR family.
In life, people get to the same place in different ways. I taught in special education, but that wasn’t what I went to school for. I was certified to teach regular education. I took a job in special ed and worked on courses in order to get my certification in this area. Others, however, went to school and received their degree in special education right away. We all reached the same point but in different ways.
Meeting our homeschooling goals is the same. Some people will do it by boxed curriculums while others won’t have any at all. Everyone has their own way of educating their child and getting it done in different ways. Our homeschool mission statement keeps us focused on finding ways to meet OUR needs. It doesn’t make sense to compare.
It took me a while to realize I needed a mission statement. I didn’t understand, at first, what a useful tool it was and have come to greatly appreciate it. I am more focused, clear on our goals, and it helps me see I am the best one to help my children reach our goals.
Need help creating a mission statement? Check out Homeschool Mission Statement Family Activity from the Hmmm…Schooling Mom. It may help you get started.
What would your homeschool mission statement be? I’d love to hear what they are. Comment below.
Happy Homeschooling!
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