Cultivation (#52)

There are certain aspects of education, like initiative, diligence, enthusiasm, humility, self-motivation and a love of learning, that need to be cultivated rather than taught. Keep in mind that cultivating often means simply preserving by not disrupting or losing patience with good things.

Here are some ways to be a good cultivator - to be used in the right season; and within reason, of course:

Foster initiative, even though it can be messy or disruptive.

Model good attitudes and virtues.

Allow small children to help you when they ask – even if they aren’t *very* helpful.

Provide children with opportunities for success - especially if they are struggling with something.

Beware of unreasonable expectations.

Avoid condescending materials and attitudes.

Remember that patience is a key virtue in this regard and, finally, don't forget to ask for God’s grace!

Gratitude (#27)

Fr. Ronald Knox said: "If ever you have felt, in the contemplation of a sunset or any perfect work of nature or art ... in the thrill of good news or in the passion of first love, that it was really worthwhile being alive - then that moment was a revelation to you, if you had the heart to understand, of what you owe to the Almighty for having created you."



Gratitude is an important part of what we want to cultivate in our families and pass on to our children. We do this by remembering to thank each other, by sharing with those in need, by valuing people over things, by counting our blessings and by worshipping and being thankful to God - particularly at Holy Mass and in saying grace before we eat.



Fostering an environment of gratitude and appreciation within the family also tends to lead to peacefulness and contentment.

It's About the Family... (#21)

Success in homeschooling is intimately tied with a healthy family culture. This doesn't require financial success or parents who are highly educated. Success is truly in reach of everyone. It doesn't require perfection and when we despair over our imperfections we close the path to God. Instead, keep striving for the good even when you make mistakes. The grace of God is essential here!

Here are a few suggestions for parents and families:

Cultivate and model good attitudes, virtues, joy, diligence and enthusiasm.

Learn, pray, work and play together each day.

Help each other discover and develop each other's gifts and talents.

Avoid extremes.

Keep your priorities straight.

Work through challenges and problems together.

Keep on trying and loving even when you make mistakes.

Prayer and Family Life (#16)

In his encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, the Holy Father says, "Faith, hope and charity go together. Hope is practiced through the virtue of patience, which continues to do good even in the face of apparent failure, and through the virtue of humility, which accepts God's mystery and trusts him even at times of darkness."

How do we cultivate humility and patience in ourselves and in our families? Through prayer. In an address to children and families, the Pope explains why this is an essential aspect of family life...

Please, also pray together at home: at meals, before going to sleep. Praying not only leads us to God but also to one another. It is a force of peace and of joy. Life within the family becomes more special and of greater importance when God is there and His presence is experienced, lived in prayer. (read the rest here)

Service (#15)

Sometimes we're too busy with the nuts and bolts of formal education to remember that volunteer work can have a huge impact on education and is even considered in the college application process.

A wealth of opportunities are available and children can be introduced while they are quite young by first serving others in their own family.

Pope Benedict had this to say about works of service:

I wish here to offer a special word of gratitude and appreciation to all those who take part in these activities... For young people, this widespread involvement constitutes a school of life which offers them a formation in solidarity and in readiness to offer others not simply material aid but their very selves. The anti-culture of death...is thus countered by unselfish love which shows itself to be a culture of life by the very willingness to "lose itself" for others. (Deus Caritas Est)

Beauty in Education (# 13)

One important, though often overlooked, aspect of education is beauty.

Pope Benedict XVI said,

"Children exposed to what is aesthetically and morally excellent are helped to develop appreciation, prudence and the skills of discernment. Here it is important to recognize the fundamental value of parents' example and the benefits of introducing young people to children's classics in literature, to the fine arts and to uplifting music. While popular literature will always have its place in culture, the temptation to sensationalize should not be passively accepted in places of learning. Beauty, a kind of mirror of the divine, inspires and vivifies young hearts and minds, while ugliness and coarseness have a depressing impact on attitudes and behaviour."

Read his entire message, from the 41st World Communications Day here.

An Environment of Love and Learning (#12)

Education isn't just about what children know; perhaps more importantly, it's about what they love. Successful home education relies on a healthy family life where love of goodness and truth is modeled and cultivated.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers a beautiful explanation of this concept: "Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well-suited for education in the virtues. This requires an apprenticeship in self-denial, sound judgment, and self-mastery - the preconditions of true freedom... Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them."

Further Information:

The above quote is from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2223

Pope Benedict XVI has recently written on the subject of beauty in education.