What
is home schooling?
Homeschooling is a biblical
training method by which parents educate their children
at home according to guidelines and requirements set up
for that purpose. Along with imparting factual
information, it involves nurturing and inspiring a child,
inducing him to think, to explore and find lessons in
everything around him.
Why
Home Instruction?
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"He that walketh
with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of
fools shall be destroyed." Proverbs 13:20
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Character
Development
Good climate for
social & physical well-being.
Parents can help
children prepare to overcome temptations rather
than subjecting them to life-threatening
situations before they are ready to deal with
them (drugs, immorality, etc.)
"That you may prove
yourselves to be blameless and innocent,
children of God above reproach in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation, among whom you
appear as lights in the world." Philippians
2:15
Biblical Design -
God has chosen the home.
The Creator carefully
crafted the home to provide the most natural and
effective learning environment for children. God
equips parents with devotion & unique
skills. No other institution can replace
parents.
Opportunity to
demonstrate to our children commitment to
spiritual convictions.
Home instruction
provides a powerful opportunity to demonstrate
and live out what we believe.
"let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew
5:16
Strengthened family
relationships.
Children need a
foundation to endure peer pressure which can
strip them of their identities.
In the caring setting
of the home, this foundation is built by the
critical bond of love between parent and
child.
"And He shall turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
hearts of the children to the fathers." Malachi
4:6
Christian living is
reinforced each day by devoted
parents.
It is amazing how many
teachable moments of eternal things are
available to parents who invest full time
training in their children. With deeper family
relationships comes greater opportunities to
instill godly character.
Quality
Academic Training
Tutoring and
apprenticeship has always been the preferred
method for those who could afford it. Diligent
attention by a concerned parent is far more
important than professionally trained
instructors, especially in the lower
grades.
Because God has
designed it, the home provides a well-rounded
opportunity for growth in every area of
life.
"...Joseph & Mary
did everything required by the Lord...and the
child grew and became strong; He was filled with
wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him." Luke
2:39-40
Benefits of a
quality home instruction program:
Opportunities to
combine academic learning with practical daily
learning experiences.
- Child development
at his/her own pace without peer
pressure.
- Reduced time
constraints and increased flexibility for
learning and development.
- Opportunity for
both fathers and mothers to participate in a
child's education on a regular
basis.
- Individual
attention.
- Physical and
spiritual security.
- Opportunities for
parents as well as children to expand their
knowledge and to delve into subjects of
particular interest more deeply than would be
possible to do in a conventional classroom
setting.
"And these words, which
I command thee this day, shall be in thine
heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto
thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by
the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou
risest up." Deuternomy 6:6-7
"Fathers, do not
provoke your children to anger, but bring them
up in the discipline and instruction of the
Lord." Ephesians 6:4
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What
about socialization?
Socialization is the process of
routinely sharing common experiences, preferably in a
positive and friendly manner. In the Christian home,
socializing begins with kindness, cooperation, mutual
trust and an adherence to the Golden Rule - fitting
children for a companionship with others. Studies have
shown that a strong sense of identity and good basic
education skills are much more important to children for
long-term success than undirected mixing with many other
same-age children. In fact, such peer interaction tends
more often to be negative than positive, resulting in
peer pressure, selfishness, ridicule and rivalry, all of
which are so prevalent in society today.
Do
I need to obtain permission from the state?
No. Families enrolled with
Walkersville Christian Family Schools satisfy the school
attendance requirements of the State of Maryland. As part
of your registration process with us, your county is
informed of your enrollment. No further interaction is
necessary.
Do
homeschooling parents need to be certified
teachers?
No. Parents do not need teaching
degrees in Maryland as well as most states. Parental
devotion, love for their children and willingness to
learn are the most important factors of a child's
learning.
How
can a parent teach unfamiliar subjects?
Most parents are better equipped to teach from
a good textbook than they think. However, educational
workshops, assistance from the staff, informal contact with other
parents and special events are available. WCFS
workshop program.
Is
WCFS approved by the State of Maryland?
Yes. WCFS is recognized as a
Christian school and operates under the Maryland laws for
Christian Schools. Most of our graduates have been
accepted into the college of their choice.
What
does WCFS curriculum include?
WCFS does not have a canned
curriculum. Upon enrollment, every child is tested and
recommendations are made. The parents choose the course
of study for their child. WCFS administration and
supervision encourages and ensures that parents follow
through with what they have decided to do.
WCFS sells curriculum from
several different vendors. Curriculum from other vendors
can be requested. Unit study or project oriented
curriculum is encouraged. Home instructors have more
resources available to them than "traditional" school
choices.
At the elementary school level,
(K-6), subjects include: Bible, Language Arts, (Reading,
Writing, Spelling, Composition and Grammar), Math,
Science, Social Studies, (History and Geography), and
Physical Education. Other studies, such as Music, Health
and Home Ec., etc., can be combined with units of study
as appropriate or taught separately. At the high school
level, there are 6 courses of study from which to choose
with course requirements for each.
Can
high school students learn a trade?
WCFS has a work-study
apprenticeship program. Many opportunities are available
to home-schooled students which provide valuable training
toward a career trade.
Do
WCFS graduates receive a high school diploma?
Yes, WCFS awards a high school
diploma to students who have completed the work for the
selected course of study. Our diploma is recognized under
the provisions of Maryland State laws for supervised home
instruction without state accreditation.
What
about college?
Most colleges accept our diploma
along with the scores for the ACT
and SAT.
Students who score well on these tests are willingly
accepted by colleges.
What
is the cost?
Click here
to read more about our tuition, and tuition reduction
policy.
What
is the school year schedule?
Home schooling provides the most
flexible scheduling available for parents. Families can
school year-round, on Saturdays, evenings or whatever is
necessary to accomplish their educational
goals.
What
about record-keeping and transcripts?
We will request transcripts to
be sent to us from your children's previous schools which
we will then maintain throughout their enrollment. We
provide record-keeping books or you can use your own
forms. Several grading methods are available to use.
Simple instructions are included in our
manual.
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"I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me." Philippians
4:13
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