Keeping Christ in the Curriculum  

By Pastor Eric Maggio M.Div. HCS Board Member 

As a lead pastor and a homeschool dad, I have had a burden on my heart to make sure that our Christian faith is intricately woven into our homeschool experience both in our regular daily curriculum and our class days.  It is becoming increasingly apparent that removing God from our schools has had dire consequences for our nation.  We would be remiss if we neglected the very thing that makes homeschooling the more desirable option, the very thing that separates a homeschool education from public school indoctrination.  One of the great blessings of homeschooling is that we have the freedom to include our faith in our teaching.  Scripture reminds us to “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3).  So we have a freedom to include our faith in our teaching, to make homeschooling as much about discipleship as it is about academics, but how do we do that? How do we integrate faith and discipleship into our homeschool curriculum?  Here are three key ways to seeing your homeschool experience become a faith filled education.  

1. Prayer: To start your day on the right foot begins the night before.  Pray for the next day’s homeschool experience before bed as a family.  Pray with your child as you begin the first lesson, even pray as you end the day.  Let your child know that homeschool isn’t just an academic exercise, but a spiritual experience.  “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
2. Bible: The Bible is the Living Word of God and has application in virtually every subject we teach.  The more we find and use Bible verses and apply it to every subject, the sooner our children will realize that the Bible is not just one subject among many, but is often the very thing that ties it all together.   
3. Worship:. When the situation allows it, it’s great to have Christian worship music play in the background.  The more we are in a spirit of worship the more we are in a right place of mind to keep Christ in the curriculum.

Our class days are encouraged to have a morning chapel where Christ is at the forefront.   More than just an “opening,” it is a time where Jesus is glorified and the Word is proclaimed.  It sets our class day off on the right foot and each class day teacher is encouraged to open class with a prayer or even take prayer requests in class.  This is not done because it is expected, but because it is vital in raising our kids with Christ at the heart of Heritage Christian School.