I am probably not the first one to tell you that it’s a good idea to identify your homeschool values.
Have you done it?
What are your most important homeschool values?
Do you understand why they are so important?
Identifying homeschool values is one of the first steps in Minimalist Homeschooling: the step-by-step guide to an intentional education. And Minimalist Homeschooling Mindset Hack #8 is: Identify your most important homeschool values.
Of all the steps in the book, THIS is the step that caused the most confusion and discussion (dare I suspect even a little anxiety) over in the facebook group.
Identify your top 5 homeschool values.
Regardless of where you are in this minimalist homeschooling journey, it’s so very important to know WHY homeschool values are important to begin with! How exactly do homeschool values contribute to a minimalist homeschool?
In order to achieve any goal, you must start from a place of valuing that goal.
Valuing something changes it from an obligation to a desire.
What you value in your homeschool will be the beacon of light on your darkest days. Homeschool values not only motivate us to keep going, but they also direct where we go! Therefore, the sooner you can identify your homeschool values, the sooner you will have a clarified and meaningful homeschool.
Once you have identified your homeschool values, minimalist homeschooling becomes so much easier! Suddenly, all of your decisions can be weighed against your values. Choose learning opportunities that suit your values to ensure that all of your learning opportunities are exactly what is needed and loved.
Learning according to your values can offer so many advantages like:
- Confidence in the education plan you are using.
- Clarity when making decisions.
- Meaningful and valuable learning.
- More open time and space.
In short, having a set of homeschool values leads to reduced anxiety, fear, doubt, and busyness.
Yes. I said that the simple act of identifying your top 5 homeschool values will add immeasurable clarity and meaning to your homeschool. It’s almost magical!
The Homeschool Values Quick-Fix
Once you have your homeschool values, the answer to so much homeschool anxiety can be addressed by remembering your values.
- Feeling overwhelmed? Do all of your activities strengthen your values?
- Feeling doubtful? Does this choice support your values?
- Feeling burnt-out? What is the simplest way to achieve your most important values?
But, it’s not always easy. Like I said, there was quite a bit of discussion on the facebook group about this specific task.
Apparently there are lists floating around of 100’s of potential homeschool values! Not terribly minimalist. Somewhat overwhelming. And, not clarifying at all!
Identify Your Top 5 Homeschool Values: How to Make it Happen
I highly recommend that, if you haven’t already, you read the 3rd post in the Minimalist Homeschooling Mindset Series to better understand how important this change of mindset really is.
>Read more about understanding the REAL investment that homeschoolers make.<<
- Think about it. Brainstorm why you homeschool. Consider what your hopes are for who your children become. Finally, list what traits would you most like to foster in your home, your child, and yourself.
- Sit with this for a while. Listen to what comes to you during moments of peace, or during your deepest frustrations. Add those ideas to the list. Don’t rush this most critical part of homeschool planning.
- Talk it out. Share your list with your spouse, dear friend, and/or mother. Add to the list.
- Prioritize. Choose the top 5 homeschool values from your thoughtfully curated list. Of course you want ALL the things. In the name of minimalism, choose the 5 most valuable and most loved. Trust that the other values will naturally flow from the top 5 values.
- Use them. As you plan your homeschool, your lessons, or your daily life, keep these values as the cornerstone of each decision.
- Reassess. Don’t let perfectionism paralyze your decisions. You can always revisit this list and tweak it. As new values come to mind, or others seem less important, make a change. I go back to this step as soon as schooling feels difficult, stressful, or tedious. Each new planning session begins with reaffirming our top values. While values are things that don’t readily change, how they are prioritized can change.
FAQ’s
Can Homeschool Values Change?
In sort, yes, but it is a long process to change. I think this depends on personal growth – both yours and your child’s. As you learn more about different education theories, learn more about your children, and change your own perspective on life and the world, your values may change. In addition, our top values for the toddler years may be different from the teenage years. The large list may remain unchanged, but which values take priority during a season can change.
Are Family Values the Same as Homeschool Values?
Not necessarily. It is possible, but I recommend thinking carefully specifically about homeschooling values instead of automatically transplanting family values onto your homeschool. You may come up with identical lists, but do the work to get there independently.
What if I Want ALL the Values in My Homeschool?
Why? Why do you want or need them all? This calls upon the minimalist mindset in general, which says that having the perfect amount of stuff is ideal. In theory, you can decide what “the perfect amount” of homeschool values is. If you need to have a list of 6, or 10, then go for it. The idea is to prioritize values so that the process adds clarity – not overwhelm – to your homeschool planning.
Prioritizing 5 does not mean that the others have no place and cannot be revisited. It means that your focus is on the top 5, and you are trusting that the others will fall into place. In many cases, the top 5 values cannot exist in a vacuum without all of their related values. For example, if charity is a top value, then selflessness and a broad world-view will likely find a place in your activities even without prioritizing those other two values. Similarly, prioritizing adventure in a homeschool will allow for plenty of curiosity, self-discipline, and independent thought.
How do I Go Deeper into a Minimalist Homeschool?
I am here on this website because I want homeschooling to be an excellent experience for you and your children! Homeschooling does not need to be a stressful list of to-do’s; of being busy all day but not knowing what was actually accomplished. If you’re craving more; if you’re ready to purge your priorities, schedule, lessons, resources, and space; the book will walk you through the entire process. It includes 15 free worksheets to guide you to a clear, confident, and excellent homeschool.
Alternatively, there is a series of blog posts that details the Minimalist Homeschooling Mindset. Reading through those posts will get you well on your way to understanding how simple homeschooling can be.
Share below. What are your top homeschool values? How do you come about discovering your values? What questions do you have?
Wishing you all the simple things,
Zara
