Pedagogy - Rest as Pedagogy
Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. You are all well aware of the reality of teaching your children at home. It requires all of you, all of the time, even and especially when you are struggling to access all of yourself. The job of “homeschooler” is not only to educate, but to influence, guide, encourage, discipline, set the tone, make lunch, make snacks, clean, find pencils, dry tears, hold, hug, listen, answer, answer again, and perform all the other tasks the day requires. This level of self-giving requires a high amount of preparation. This preparation is not just logistics and supplies, but a preparation of the heart and mind. How do you teach from a place of rest? How do you come to every home day renewed, calm, and excited to pour out? You begin first and foremost by asking the Holy Spirit to enter your home before you do. You begin everyday with a humbled heart before the Lord knowing you alone cannot provide all that your children need. Next you incorporate these two practical tips:
Consider this scripture: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:1-2) The Lord has given you, his beloved, the gift of rest. Accept it, prioritize it. Most of us know what it is we need to do to prioritize rest in our home. The hard part is actually doing it. Prioritizing rest often feels like neglecting something important. Write this scripture on your heart and know that rest is a wise discipline that brings life to your home.
Do not skip the restful parts of your day, i.e. Family Read Aloud: It can be very tempting, especially when you are inevitably running behind, to drop the parts of your day that don’t say “due next campus day” next to them. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of NOT doing this. The family read aloud is intentionally built into your schedule to allow for a moment of rest both for you and your children. Not only are you communicating to your children the value a beautifully written story can add to their life, but you are showing them how to slow down and find renewal in literature. So if you have been forgoing or rushing through this part of the day, I would encourage you to reconsider. Stop all activities, gather everyone to a quiet and cozy part of the house, bring blankets, a nourishing snack, take a deep breath (or a few), hold a child on your lap, and read aloud. I guarantee you will not regret a commitment to this restful rhythm.
There is so much to be said on this topic and so much to be learned. Teaching From Rest, which I shared in my last post, is a great place to start if you are wanting more!
Sincerely,
Katie Lockette
Asst. Director of Faculty & Academics