Introduction
Introduction
to What Your Child
Needs to Know When
Why this Book Was Written
Each year approaching testing time,
homeschool parents panic and wonder “How
do I know if we are prepared for the achievement
tests?” “When do I teach double digit
multiplication?” “What kind of words
are on the spelling test?” “When do
I teach homophones?” “What are homophones?”
etc.
To answer these questions, apprehensions, and
fears, I authored the first edition of What Your
Child Needs to Know When, consisting of the Basic
Checklist of Skills (pages 173-310). It rapidly
became a homeschool bestseller.
Why this Book Was Expanded
Sadly, most homeschoolers that
bought the first edition of this book did so out
of fear—fear of the state requirements. The
check list in the first edition helped homeschoolers
meet the standards, but it did not explain how
important it is to evaluate why and what we are
teaching our children.
Most home educators begin their homeschool journey
with a strong desire to teach their children God’s
Word and the necessary academics to prepare them
for life. But somewhere along the way they drift
off course. The original goal of teaching their
children “God’s ways” mysteriously
transforms into teaching what the “state”
or “world” requires.
This new edition includes 200 pages
(explained on pages 9 and 10) to help you
put the achievement test and the National standards
in the proper perspective.
True wisdom is having the ability
to judge correctly and follow the best course
of action, based on knowledge and understanding.
Knowing the facts (economical, mathematical, scientific,
etc.) is not enough to make a godly decision.
To make a wise decision one must know what God
says about the situation. Almost anyone can gain
the necessary scholastic achievement to become
a doctor or a businessman, etc. But is it truly
achievement if they become a crooked doctor or
businessman? What good is it to know five foreign
languages if one does not have tongue control?
What good is it to read Greek literature if one
does not know the Proverbs of Solomon? What good
is it to be proficient in accounting if one cheats
on income taxes? What good is it to know the names
of every bone in the human body if one does not
know how to give a kind word?
God gave us directions to reach
His divine appointed destination. Our first goal
must be to teach our children God's ways and paths.
We claim a wonderful promise in Mal. 4:6a: And
he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the
children, and the heart of the children to their
fathers. But we often forget verse 4 telling us
that the promise happens when we remember God's
ways. Are you aiming your children to have a heart
of wisdom, true wisdom, from God? When we remember
to acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct
our paths. I pray this book will give you a glimpse
of the true and righteous standards our Lord has
for your children. His yoke is easy, His burden
is light.
Why this Book Was Expanded 2001
The 1996 version of this book included
an introduction to the Heart of Wisdom approach
(a combination of several formal and informal
educational methods.) Since that time this approach
has developed and progressed. Chapter 8 “Aiming
for a Heart of Wisdom” and Chapter 9 “Implementing
a Heart of Wisdom Approach” have been rewritten
to reflect the growth. Other chapters have been
slightly changed and new resources have been added.
What This Book is Not
This book was not written to make
achievement tests the focus of home education.
Americans are already concerned too much with
academic success and too little with the whole
child. Many elements of learning and development
are not captured by standardized tests.
The National Education Association’s agenda
is an aggressive, socialist, anti-life, anti-family
policy. Consider the philosophies studied: Plato
and Greek thought, Islam, Marxism, Rationalism/Humanism,
Buddhism and Eastern mysticism, and Evolution.
Home-school parents can tell their children’s
strengths and weaknesses from working with them
daily. They do not really need achievement tests.
First of all, the achievement tests do not test
a child’s relationship with God. God’s
spiritual requirements are so much more significant
than any academic requirements defined by man.
Secondly, home-schooling parents generally have
higher standards than the school. Children are
all unique with individual God-given talents that
cannot be measured by a test. Man’s teachings,
programs, and standards only evaluate a small
portion of a large picture. They do not evaluate
wisdom for living a prudent and righteous life.
Your most important accomplishment will be to
teach your child God’s holy Word, true wisdom,
to prepare him or her for a life of service.
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