I’m a homeschool mom with four daughters between the ages of 6 and 13. We are almost halfway through our seventh year of homeschooling, and our family has used BJU Press’s homeschool curriculum since the very first day. We initially chose BJU Press because we knew the curriculum would support the values that we are working to instill in our children. We’ve come to love BJU Press. My daughters are thriving and actually look forward to doing schoolwork each day. And the new BJU Press Homeschool Hub tool has made homeschooling so much easier.
The BJU Press homeschool curriculum is robust—there are a lot of parts and pieces, so some homeschoolers find it initially overwhelming. If you are considering using BJU Press or are new to BJU Press, here’s what you’ll need for getting started with BJU Press in your homeschool.
Are you new to homeschooling?
If you are new to homeschooling, congratulations! You are embarking on an amazing educational journey that will reap lifetime rewards. It’s understandable if you are a little nervous—trying something new is always a little unnerving. Here are a few resources to help you get started homeschooling.
- How to Homeschool in 10 Steps
This article covers everything from determining the why of homeschooling to practical tips to help you with the how of homeschooling. You will find out how to research your state’s homeschooling laws and requirements, plan your homeschool schedule, set up your homeschool space, determine your child’s learning style, and more.
- Homeschool High School Credits and Graduation Requirements
If you are homeschooling a high-schooler, you will definitely need to know how to calculate high-school credits so you can meet your state’s individual graduation requirements.
- The Academy of Home Education
The Academy of Home Education is a record-keeping service from BJU Press. It also offers an accreditation option for homeschool families that are looking for accreditation.
- What is a Biblical Worldview and Why Is it Important in Education?
This article explains the inevitability of worldview shaping in education and why your child needs an education from a biblical worldview.
Confidently Homeschool with BJU Press
BJU Press materials give you the freedom to homeschool with confidence, regardless of how many years you have been homeschooling. With BJU Press, you can be confident that your child is receiving an academically rigorous education with a biblical worldview and will be well prepared for a successful future.
BJU Press offers several homeschool curriculum options so you can be as involved as you want to be in your child’s education. If you are not comfortable teaching or have limited time, choose BJU Press’s video courses and be confident that your child is being taught by expert, engaging teachers. Or choose to teach your child yourself using BJU Press’s teacher editions and be confident that you will have the support you need for every lesson.
Check out the Getting Started with BJU Press web page to help you choose which homeschool curriculum option might be best for your family.
Getting to Know the BJU Press Homeschool Hub
My favorite thing about using BJU Press’s homeschool curriculum is the BJU Press Homeschool Hub, a web-based platform through which we stream our video course content, keep track of grades, and schedule our days. I often tell people that I don’t know how I would homeschool without it. It keeps my four daughters on track every day and allows them to work through their courses independently. It takes pain out of both scheduling and grading by letting me set up custom schedules and giving me grading resources and access to automatic grading. And it gives me all the tools I need to keep track of grades and attendance information.
The BJU Press Homeschool Hub is free for anyone to use. Online video course users will receive the most benefit from it, but you can add parent-led courses as well as non-BJU Press courses too.
If you need any help with any of the features in the BJU Press Homeschool Hub, check out the walkthrough videos by clicking on the question mark icon at the top of the Homeschool Hub interface. Jenna also discusses the planning feature in detail in her post “How to Set Your Homeschool Schedule with the Homeschool Hub Planner.”
Getting to Know Your BJU Press Products
Your Video Courses
Sometimes it just isn’t possible for you to teach every subject to all your children. You only have so much time. BJU Press video courses free you up as a parent while giving you confidence in your homeschool because engaging, expert teachers are teaching your child. Although your child may still need your help occasionally, video courses allow your student to learn independently.
BJU Press video courses are available on DVD or can be streamed directly within the BJU Press Homeschool Hub. When you purchase the online video lessons, the web based Homeschool Hub allows you and your child to access your course videos from any device through either the student or the parent logins.
You as a parent still have complete control over your child’s learning experience through the lesson planner and the gradebook. You can skip or modify lessons or assignments if your child can show understanding of the course material. And you can also add extra assignments or repeat lessons if your child needs more time to grasp a concept.
Your Textbooks
Even if you are using BJU Press video courses, your BJU Press textbooks are the heart of your homeschool. These beautifully designed, full-color textbooks have been written by seasoned educators and subject-matter experts so you can be confident that your child won’t have any learning gaps.
BJU Press textbooks have several features that make them a valuable part of your homeschool—a biblical worldview, differentiated learning, age-appropriate instruction, and opportunities to develop critical-thinking skills.
A Biblical Worldview
People often define a worldview as “a set of basic beliefs, assumptions, and values that arise from a narrative about the world” that serves as the basis for decision making. As Christians, we want our children to base their worldview on the unchangeable, authoritative Word of God, not the culture around us. Developing this biblical worldview is an important part of education. And it’s the goal of every BJU Press textbook.
Differentiated Learning
Not every child learns the same way or is on the same level. Children often learn best through different learning styles. Some children may be advanced learners but aren’t ready to move on to the next grade level. Alternatively, some may be struggling and need additional support from lesson to lesson. Homeschooling gives you the ability to tailor your child’s experiences to unique needs. BJU Press textbooks not only provide resources, activities, and tools for a multi-sensory learning experience, but they also support you if you need to add challenge for an advanced student or give additional support for struggling students.
Age-Appropriate Instruction
The BJU Press writing teams and video course teachers carefully scope out content that is age appropriate and developmentally appropriate for your child. They have made sure that your child will be ready for each new academic challenge, whether in hands-on demonstrations or by writing on grade-level so your child is ready to read and understand each lesson.
Critical-Thinking Skills
We don’t just want our children to be able to regurgitate information—we want our children to be able to understand it, apply it, and evaluate it. Critical-thinking skills are necessary for success in today’s world. BJU Press textbooks use questioning, hands-on-projects and activities, and more to develop critical-thinking skills in students.
Your Teacher Editions
If you are planning on teaching your child yourself, your BJU Press teacher editions will be your new best friends. They are full of background information, discussion questions, activity suggestions, examples, and much more. They will provide you with clear objectives for every lesson as well as everything you need to teach successfully.
Although the BJU Press teacher editions are invaluable support tools, they aren’t a script. You are still in charge and can modify the lesson to meet your child’s specific needs. I sometimes tell people that teaching with a BJU Press teacher edition is like having a friend or relative with medical expertise accompany you to a doctor’s appointment. Your friend or relative might not be the physician in charge, but his or her presence brings immeasurable security and help.
Stay Connected with Our Latest News
If you are new to using BJU Press, I would encourage you to stay connected by signing up for BJU Press’s homeschool newsletter. You’ll get periodic tips on homeschooling and getting the most out of your BJU Press curriculum in your email inbox. Plus, you’ll be the first to hear about sales and new products.
The BJU Press homeschool curriculum materials are a great choice for your homeschool! You can be confident that whatever homeschooling challenges come your way this year, BJU Press will help support you through them. If you need any help or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local HomeWorks consultant or call BJU Press directly and they will connect you with someone who can answer your questions.
