Wondering how to create and Orthodox Homeschool Curriculum? Are you an Orthodox Christian who, like me, found yourself at the exciting intersection of homeschooling and faith, but weren’t quite sure how to merge the two seamlessly? Or perhaps you’re a seasoned homeschooler who, like my family, recently took the significant step of baptism into the Orthodox Christian Church.
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If you resonate with either of these scenarios, I’m here to connect with you on a personal level and offer some valuable insights. I’m going to show you how to infuse the church into your homeschool and essentially create an Orthodox Homeschool Curriculum.
When my family began our journey of attending an Orthodox Church, entering the catechumenate, and ultimately receiving the profound sacrament of baptism, it ignited within me a profound longing. I yearned to discover a way to authentically weave our church life into the fabric of our homeschooling routine.
It wasn’t just about teaching our children; it was about living the Church life as a family. I felt, deep in my heart, that this was the divine path I was meant to follow.
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I embarked on this journey of faith and education, reaching out to fellow church members, diving into online resources, and eagerly following Orthodox pages on Instagram. Every step was a revelation, each discovery a source of inspiration.
And now, I’m thrilled to stand beside you, fellow homeschooling Orthodox Christians, and share what I’ve learned. Together, we’ll navigate this enriching journey, helping you master the practice more swiftly than I did.
In this article, I’ll provide you with seven invaluable ways to bring Orthodoxy into your homeschool, not just as a concept but as a vibrant, integral part of your daily life.
7 Ways to Infuse Orthodoxy into your Homeschool Curriculum
1. Teaching Prayer
Begin your homeschooling day with a meaningful ritual—Morning Prayers. Depending on your children’s ages and understanding, you can choose from different prayer options:
- Consider starting with a shorter Children’s Prayer
- Alternatively, you can introduce them to The Trisagion Prayers
- For children who are more advanced in their prayer practice, you can incorporate the full Morning Prayers
If your children haven’t yet memorized important prayers such as The Lord’s Prayer or The Jesus Prayer, you can work on these together as part of your daily routine.
Prayer is one of the most important pieces to the Orthodox Faith and it’s so important that you include it in your Orthodox Homeschool Curriculum.
2. Attending Liturgy (Even on Weekdays)
In our homeschooling journey, we make a concerted effort to attend the Divine Liturgy as frequently as possible. Liturgical services offer a wealth of learning opportunities for children.
Our parish conducts the Liturgy in both Greek and English. The beauty of the Greek language in the Liturgy has captivated me, and I’ve even picked up on some phrases just from attending.
I can only imagine the profound impact this bilingual experience will have on my children’s understanding as they continue to grow in the Church.
During the Liturgy, sacred scriptures are read aloud. This provides a wonderful and immersive way for children to learn and engage with the Holy Scriptures.
3. Learn About The Saints
We enjoy listening to the Saints of the Day on the Patristic Nectar App or the Saint of the Day Podcast on the Ancient Faith Radio App.
Additionally, there are books available for reading, such as the My Synaxarion – A Saint for Every Day. While I haven’t personally purchased these books yet, they are available, with one book dedicated to each month. I plan to start collecting them one at a time.
In my opinion, this is one of the BEST ways to bring Orthodoxy into your Homeschool Routine!
4. Read the Bible
This one is pretty straight forward. It’s important to read the Bible as often as possible. You can read straight from the Orthodox Study Bible each day in small doses or even use the Children’s Bible Reader.
Right now, our family loves to listen to Daily Orthodox Scriptures for Kids on the Ancient Faith Radio App.
5. Memorize Verses from the Orthodox Study Bible
You can also use the King James Version (KJV) but I personally love the Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) since it does include additional books that are not included in the KJV.
Another great thing about the OSB is that the Old Testament utilizes the Septuagint translated from Greek to English, rather than the Hebrew Masoretic.
6. Sing Orthodox Hymns
Singing Orthodoxy Hymns will greatly infuse the liturgical way of living into your Orthodox Homeschool Curriculum! We sing the Hymns daily but work on a different one every month.
One of the most enchanting aspects of our faith-filled homeschooling journey is the daily practice of singing Orthodox hymns. It’s not just about singing; it’s about immersing ourselves in the beautiful melodies and timeless lyrics that have been passed down through generations.
Because of this, I find that Orthodox Hymns are some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. I’m not very partial to the Protestant style hymns unfortunately.
A great resource that we use for this is Saint Emmelia Ministries.
7. Celebrate the Feast Days
In our homeschool, celebrating Orthodox Feast Days has become an eagerly anticipated tradition that adds depth and joy to our faith-focused curriculum. Feast days are not just dates on the calendar; they are vibrant expressions of our rich Orthodox heritage and an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the lives of saints, holy events, and the mysteries of our faith.
We try to find fun ways to do this that will be memorable for my children. This will help them remember what each Feast Day is about. Ascetic Life of Motherhood has some really great ideas for this!
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In the ever-evolving journey of faith and education, we discover that the path to enriching our homeschooling with Orthodoxy is both enlightening and deeply rewarding. As we instill the beauty of prayer, the wisdom of saints, the richness of Scripture, and the resonance of hymns into our daily routines, we embark on a spiritual adventure that not only shapes our children’s hearts but our own as well.
Remember, it’s not about perfection but the sincere effort to nurture faith within the comforting embrace of your home. As we teach our children, we, too, learn and grow together in Orthodoxy.
So, whether you’re just starting or have been on this path for a while, I encourage you to embrace the journey, keep exploring, and adapt these practices to your family’s unique needs and circumstances.
May your homeschooling days be filled with the grace of God and the joy of Orthodox living. I’m here to support you, and I look forward to hearing about your own experiences and discoveries as you bring Orthodoxy into your homeschool.
Together, we’ll continue to strengthen our faith, enrich our lives, and nurture the Orthodox spirit in our homes.
If you found this post helpful or you want to reference it later, be sure to save this pin to your Orthodox Christian or Homeschool Pinterest Board!
I do like the content in your blog posts. They are so pertinent to homeschoolers of so many persuasions!