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Homeschool
Q& A
Question from Vancouver, WA
Q.
How much time does homeschooling take?
A. Homeschooling does
require a time commitment. However, one-to-one instruction is
much less time con- suming and more efficient that classroom in-
struction. Because of this, takes less time.
Your time commitment will vary depending on the methods you use and the
ages of your children. If you have several children you are teaching,
you may want to consider a "unit
study" approach. This method allows you to teach several ages
at once, and then give age-appropriate assignments.
On average, most homeschoolers spend one-half to one hour daily with
the early grades, and up to three or four hours with the upper
grades. Of course, older students can do much of their work
independently, while younger students will need more intense
instruction in basic skills.
Like many homeschooling parents, we found that we were to switch to a
four-day school week and still accomplish our goals!
heidi st. john
If you have a question to
submit, please send it via email to info@fchm.org with Q&A in the
subject line.
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Co-op Leaders:
MP3 recordings are now available for you to download!
Co-op Leaders can now access the FCHM Leadership Series by going to the
forum and downloading them:
FOUR Workshops with NOTES are available for you to listen to alone or
with your leadership teams.
- Keys To Effective Leadership Part 1 : Time Management
- Keys to Effective Leadership Part 2: Mentoring and
Discipleship
- Volunteers: How to Catch and Keep Great Volunteers
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Ministry
Quicklinks
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Questions
about your state requirements for homeschooling?
Click
here to visit HSLDA
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Coming
Soo n...
The
FCHM book store! Keep watching the First Class website for grand
opening specials! You'll find audio downloads, great books that
have blessed the staff and board of FCHM, First Class T-Shirts and
more! You'll love it!
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Get
Connected
to the larger homeschooling community through First Class!
Visit our online forum
and talk with other families who are in First Class Co-ops! Find
encouragement, exhange ideas and get inspired!
www.fchm.org/forum
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Welcome to the FCHM
Ezine!
 We're
excited to finally have the premier issue of the FCHM member's ezine
out to you!
If you are new to First Class - we welcome you! We've been
ministering to homeschoolers since 2000 when the first co-op
began. We now have 18 co-ops in many different states around the
country, and we're adding more all the time.
Jay and I have six children ages 2-16 and have spent most of our 18
years of marriage in full-time ministry. Our heart's desire is
that you will find a real sense of Christian community - even family
at First Class Homeschool Miinistries. We're committed to helping
churches reach out to homeschooling families by sponsoring FCHM
Homeschool Co-ops. We're also committed to bringing First Class
members relevant information on homeschooling, regional events,
leadership training and prayerful encouragement through God's word!
Homeschool parents, you are incredible! We pray for
God's richest blessing on your school year and consider it a great
privilege to work alongside you.
Because of Him and for the Next Generation,
Jay and Heidi St. John
Founders
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7
Ways to Build a Strong Homeschool Community
 Want to get your co-op off to a great start this
fall? Here are some tips to inspire and encourage you as you work
together for the homeschool families in your area!
1.
Understand the definition of a cooperative
Co-ops function best as they were designed: Each
parent assumes the responsibility of partnering together in different
ways. Look for ways you can help! When you become part of
the co-op community, you will be amazed that the benefits you
will reap for your entire family! Ask about where you can help -
you will make friends and support the co-op!
2. Be Friendly!
It's easy to forget how you felt when you first joined a homeschool
group. Go out of your way to introduce yourself! Nothing is
more welcoming to a new person in your group than to have a personal
"welcome" from several members. If you are feeling a little out
of your "comfort zone" just think of how the new family must
feel. Go and say hello!
3. Offer
Suggestions
If you see something that could be improved, let the coordinator know -
but offer ideas for ways to improve the situation. Part of being
part of the co-op is being part of the solution as things come up.
4. Support Each
Other
One of the best things about homeschoolers is their ability to think
independently. We tend to be passionate (we had to be to
homeschool in the first place, right?) and we tend to feel passionately
about a lot of things related to our families. If another mom's
parenting style or homeschooling style differs from yours, that's
okay! Don't argue over things like curriculum or
courtship - arguments like this lead to division. Instead,
pray for and encourage each other in the Lord! Our unity as
Believers is part of what sets us apart from the world. Our aim
should be to have unity and care for one another, even when we have
differing ideas and styles. (Romans 12:9-10)
5. Share the
Responsibility
I recently heard someone say "if you want something done, ask a busy
person". That is so true! It also gives us something to
think about: is your co-op coordinator a busy mom like you
are? If you see a place where you can use the gifts God has given
you to lighten the load of another mom in the co-op, offer to
help! Just the offer of help is sure to bless and encourage those
who are serving you and your children at First Class.
6. Implement New
Ideas
Healthy homeschool co-ops have members that are always implementing new
ideas! Would you like to see a sports program? Start one
with a friend! Wish there were more field trips? Put some
together and advertise them! Do you have the gift of
hospitality? Host a tea or coffee night for the new homeschool
moms in your co-op! Good ideas are only ideas until someone
implements them!
7. K.I.S.S. (Keep
It Simple, Sweetie!)
When everyone pitches in, a lot can be accomplished. Many hands
make light work. Make sure you keep your suggestions
simple. It's much easier to get others help you implement a new
idea when you clearly outline what kind of help you are looking for.
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Extreme Marriage Makeover: Homeschool
Edition
 We are excited to announce the first in a series of
weekend marriage retreats geared especially for homeschooling parents!
We hope you'll join us for two days of wonderful workshops covering
everything from communication to maintaining (or rekindling)
intimacy in your marriage! You won't want to miss this
life-changing event!
Online Registration will begin the second week in September!
Location: Pineville, Louisiana
Cost: $85/couple
Date: November 9-10 2007
Speakers: Steve and Jane Lambert, Authors and Publishers of Five
in a Row
Jay and Heidi St. John, Founders of First Class Homeschool Ministries
For more
information please email Extreme Marriage Makeover at
info@extrememarriagemakeover.com
Spotlight On:
First Class CENLA, Louisiana
Coordinator:
Esther Lasyone
Started: Summer, 2007
Classes Begin: Sep 17th
God has been doing
amazing things here in Louisiana and it all began with First Class.
Amongst friends, the subject of a co-op came up often but the thought
of beginning one from scratch was daunting.
The
Lord led me to First Class through a google search one night and I as I
read about it I became more and more excited. I requested the DVD and
we put it on as soon as it came in. My kids watched it with me and
excitedly said we HAVE to do that here mom!
I spoke with Heidi several times but was still fearful that I could not
pull this off.
I
prayed about it for a week and through a conversation with my oldest
daughter the Lord confirmed that he wanted me to start a First Class
here in Central Louisiana.
Since that moment he has given me perfect peace
about it.
I look back a month ago and can't believe how much He has done.
He
provided a church for us that has given us full use of the facility and
promoted us within the community as well. He gave me 3 awesome ladies
whom with we have formed a board and have they have worked
tirelessly
to get this underway.
We currently have 25 classes, 24 families
and 11 more that have committed to sending in their membership by Sept
1st.
Our registration will be held Sept 8th and we
look forward to classes beginning September 17th.
I
have had so many people say in awe that God put all this together
because of how perfectly everything has come together here for us. I
pray every day that the Lord will keep my flesh and my desires out of
the way and that I will stay focused on Him and his will.
Esther for First Class CENLA
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 FCHM is Supported through
Faithful Giving
To support the ministry of FCHM, please visit our Giving
Page
Your faithful giving allows us to bring First Class Homeschool Co-ops
to churches all across the United States. Our vision is to see
churches become "lighthouses" to homeschooling families, and to build
up the homeschool community, locally and nationally in the name of
Christ.
Our desire for homeschooling families is said best in the FCHM logo
verse:
Psalm 1:3 ...He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
which yeilds it's fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers!
We're looking forward to what God is going to do through First Class in
the coming months and years! Thank you for your prayerful support
of this ministry!
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