More on Homeschooling

Ok since I know a certain person (Anne) is considering homeschooling. I thought I would post a little more on it. As most everyone knows homeschooling is different for each family. For my family, and I would even say most families that homeschool it's become a way of life. It isn't so much about ok we do this subject at this time and that one at that time as it is about spending time and learning with your children. Sure some (me included on this one) use books to teach but that's not all we do either. Even for those of us that aren't unschoolers I think it's safe to say that we have used it on occasion. Meaning we learn from life as well. Whether that's going outside and watching the ants make their holes in the ground and carrying their food on their backs or going to a Museum and having your children become interested in mummies and Ancient Egypt. Something this simple can become a learning lesson. These things might not initially be for learning purposes or a lesson plan. But, when you see your child/children have that interest in these things you may stop whatever lesson you are doing to pursue a new one or you might start planning for that next lesson plan.

Homeschooling is also flexible. You can hold "school" any time of day or if you are an unschooler there is no set school time. If your child/children learn better in the morning hours you can do it then. If your child/children learn better in the afternoon or evening hours you can do it then too. You can make it as structured on unstructured as you want. It really all depends on you and your family needs.

As for my family we have a little structure and lots of unstructure LOL. We wake-up at seven a.m. (at least this year this is how we did it lol). Mainly because that's when the boy's get up anyway LOL. Then we eat breakfast and usually at eight a.m. we start schooling. But there are day's where we have to be places like the dentist, doctors or field trips where we don't get to the "typical schedule". Those day's we either finish up when we get home or do something on the road or a less school work day. There are even day's where we just didn't get to do "school" work. Doesn't mean we didn't learn anything that day. Just we didn't get paper work done LOL. Other than our start time we really don't have a schedule. I let the boy's choose what subjects they want to do. We cover all the subjects just I let them pick what they want to do first, second and so on. This makes them feel more in control of their learning. In Science and History I usually let them pic what they want to learn about too. In the last couple months we have been learning about Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.

Just remember for those new to the homeschooling world to take it easy. You will really be surprised on how much your child/children learn without you having to worry about every minute they are "learning". Don't try to over due yourself. You don't have to have your child/children in every social event or every museum tour. Do what is natural for you and your family no matter what that may be. In the beginning I think most of us mom's try to over due it and that will cause burn out. So just remember to that if you are tired from going here and there and every where then more than likely so is your child/children. Learn to read your body and your kids. This will help you into knowing what you can and can not do. Just because you don't get involved in every activity or social grouping doesn't make you a failure at homeschooling. Just means you need time to just be.

I know some of you are thinking well Jody you are always doing this and that LOL. Yes, I know we do, do a lot but that's just who I am. But even I know my limits. I know when I've had a busy week or two that I too need a break. In fact the last two weeks I haven't done a lot. I have done some but not a lot. Like I said too that it's just who I am. I like keeping busy for the most part but I would be that way anyway even if we didn't homeschool the boy's. Just stay true to who you are and who your child/children are. This will be the best for you and your family. Your family doesn't have to look anything like mine.

One more thing I want to say. Since I have been homeschooling my house is never super clean LOL. I think that has a lot to do with because I like to be out and about LOL. But especially if you are new to homeschool don't expect to have the house spotless. This is an adjustment period and it will be hard to do all! Now some homeschooling families might do fine in keeping up house work and homeschooling but again every family is different. This doesn't make you a bad mom or wife either. Just means you know what you can and can't do. I usually do better with cleaning the house in the summer months when our school work isn't as much and we are more relaxed.

If this seems jumbled I am sorry LOL. I am feeling a bit tired today for some reason (I think it's the weather lol) so I hope it came out at least understandable LOL. I hope everyone is having a good day!!

What is Homeschooling?

Today I want to talk about homeschooling again LOL. I know you are all probably sick of me talking about it huh? LoL. Anyway I think people really have a misconception of what homeschooling is. Homeschooling is different for each family. Some are a more Classical homeschoolers. Some are homeschooling in the Charlotte Mason method. Still there are some that are Eclectic homeschoolers (which is what we are). Then there are Traditional homeschoolers, Montessori homeschoolers, Unit Studies homeschoolers, Unschoolers (seems to be very controversial) and then there is also the Waldorf method of homeschooling. There is also other's too but I would probably run out of room linking to them all LOL. But what I am saying is there is as many different ways to homeschool as there are many different children.

Homeschooling doesn't mean staying at the home all day long doing work at the kitchen table. Homeschooling can take just a few hours a day (if you unschool it's based on life instead of workbook and scheduled learning) because you don't have a lot of interruptions you would in a classroom like waiting for everyone to be settled and getting prepared and what not. Homeschooling also offers more of doing hands on things. For instance older children can do more volunteering outside of the home. It can also mean doing more hands on learning. Something as simple as watching ants work can be made into learning. It doesn't necessarily have to all come from books. Learning doesn't even have to take place in the home. It can be done any where and any time.

So as you can see we aren't locked in doors five day's a week eight hours a day sitting at the kitchen table doing school work. For our family we usually wake up at seven a.m. because that's when the boy's wake-up normally anyway LOL. Then we eat our breakfast and the boy's get dressed and brush their teeth. Then at about eight a.m we do some sit down school work. By eleven o'clock a.m we are usually done with that and if we don't have anything planned for that day the boy's might go outside (if it's a nice day) and play or we might find some games to play together or do a project together. Then when their friends come home from school they are free to go out and play with them. Other day's we might have things to do like go to a MOMS Club event like Create and Play or a play date with a friend. Other day's we might take field trips like to the Art Museum or the Zoo. Still other day's we might have more of an organized field trip with a homeschool group or with another homeschool family we know.

I just wanted to post this so that other's know (all though I know it won't be accepted by all but that's ok too) that homeschooling isn't school at home or not learning at all. I hope this clears things up for some.

I hope everyone had a good day!!