I've learned a lot over the past 12 months to 16 months since I decided for sure to begin homeschooling, versus sending my son away to school. While I believe I'd work best with a clear schedule to follow -- complete with boxes to check off -- this is not the way my child best learns. He learns when he's ready. He learns when I'm not forcing him. He learns when we're driving to a museum and he asks about the signs he sees. ("What is Blood Alcohol Limit? How does alcohol get in to the blood? Why can't someone drive if they have been drinking?")
I ask him to do a cursive copywork sentence or do a page of mathematics each day still. Most days, one or the other gets done. But I'm finding that as we embrace a relaxed approach to learning, he is happier, I am happier, and we're sure having fun as he learns! Yesterday, our plans were rained out, and I felt antsy, eager to get out of the house. So we took off and headed to a museum to which I have a membership for the year. I am not certain which of the exhibits were a hit this time, but I do know what he learned as we drove: local geography, math, who is Jane Addams? (we drove on a road named after her), practice speaking and understanding Spanish (more on this, as I love the program we are using!). It was a successful day of learning. Is there a place for more formal learning? Of course. And the day will come when I require more formal learning to take place before we head out for fun. But as summer progresses, I find myself more eager to embrace the natural learning and abandon schedule for good. Another homeschooling blog recently posted a Q&A Friday about whether or not they summer school. Her reasons for schooling through the summer included:A few years ago in British Columbia, there was a province-wide teacher strike. For months, the government and the teachers were unable to reach an agreement that would allow the teachers back in school. For the children, that meant that half a million school children remained home for the first few months of the school year.
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Read MoreI’ve been pondering the ways, over the years, that I’ve found “alone time” while in the midst of homeschooling my three kids. I get energy when I am alone, so finding alone moments is essential to my daily mental health. It hasn’t always been easy to find alone time while homeschooling, but I’ve found ways
Read MoreDisclaimer: I received compensation to write this review, but these thoughts are all my own. In fact, I plan to keep using the Homeschool Planet Online Planner as we move on to a new year of homeschooling. I recently brought my youngest back home from public school, midyear. She thrives on routine and order, but she’s
Read MoreYou know how when you fly on an airplane, you are instructed to, in case of emergency, take care of your own oxygen mask before helping your child? This is self care at it’s most basic. We cannot help others if we are not breathing. Taking care of myself first before homeschooling is as important as getting
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