An Orthodox themed curriculum for homeschooling families takes on the appearance of a method. Stories would be about children attending services or lending a helping hand to their neighbor. Math word problems would ask, “There are 16 lit candles in the narthex. Your family lights 7 more candles. How many candles are now lit in the narthex?” Every element of an Orthodox themed curriculum would be laced with an “Orthodox style.” On the surface, there is a certain appeal to this type of curriculum, but at the heart of the matter, this does not teach our children about their faith.

Orthodox homeschooling is about living our faith and making the connection that every single aspect of everything we do points to our Creator. We cannot compartmentalize our faith into a subject category. Our children do not learn about fasting by reading a story about it or diligently writing a quote from a saint with their best handwriting. They learn to fast by fasting. They learn in an experiential, formational way. It’s easy to teach someone the “rules” of fasting. It’s much more difficult to teach them about fasting through the example of humility, deep love for one another, prayer, self control, and an unquenchable desire to seek God. It is through this living example that a spark ignites inside someone else as they struggle and strive to fast as well.

“We cannot teach what we do not practice ourselves.”

– Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Liturgy and Life