I really wish that I had started homeschooling from the get-go.
I think life would be so much simpler if I had.
I would already be sure of things like curriculum and schedules. And my children wouldn't question my authority - they'd be beyond the testing phase.
They both still remember their "old schools" and refer back to them often -
"In My Old School . . ."
"In Mrs. So-and-so's class . . ."
Some say that it's a sign that we haven't "deschooled" enough.
I think it's because we haven't HOMESCHOOLED enough.
I keep hoping that once we get our curriculum going things will change.
I have this secret wish that one morning they will wake up and be ready to face the day.
That one day they'll accept me as not only "mommy" but as "teacher".
I really wish that I had started homeschooling from the get-go.
Maybe it would be so much easier . . .
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
The Montessori Homeschool . . .
I think we have found our niche. Today was our first day to try Montessori Homeschooling.
What is Montessori, you ask?
I'm glad you asked!
The Montessori Method was created by Maria Montessori at the turn of the century. Her book The Montessori Method was published in 1912. The premise of the Montessori method of teaching is that children learn best when they have the freedom to chose what they wish to learn and when. That being said, there is still a METHOD of teaching and a sequence.
For example, in a Montessori school, the learning always begins with Practical Life and Sensorial works. Practical Life is exactly what it sounds like: learning how to LIVE. Things like dressing, hygiene, cooking, sewing, cleaning, etc. Sensorial works are based around the five senses - sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell. Once children master these types of works, they are free, when they are ready, to move toward work dealing with language arts, math, and social sciences.
One of the greatest aspects of the Montessori method is that children teach each OTHER works they've mastered, and often older children will instruct the younger children. This is why the Montessori method lends itself well to homeschools with multiple aged children.
In a true Montessori school, you find classrooms separated by age groups that are larger than a traditional school might be. Rather than being broken up into Kindergarten, First, Second, etc. grades, the Montessori school is broken up into age ranges: 3-6; 6-9; 9-12; 12-15, etc. This so that older children have the opportunity to teach younger children. This is important from two perspectives: first, when a child is able to teach another child, it cements the lesson into their own mind, thus completing a "learning circle" (introduce, learn, practice, teach). For the younger child, they get to interact with an older mentor, so to speak.
Another benefit of the Montessori style of teaching is that every child goes at his or her own pace. This is important for so many reasons. So often we hinder a child's love of learning by trying to force them to learn something they might not be ready to learn. Potty training a child too early, for example, can lead to future issues with bowl with-holding or nighttime wetting. The same goes with subject-learning. A child that is not ready to read can become frustrated and belligerent when being forced into it. The opposite is true for children that are ready for something before the educational system says they are. Some children are ready to read and write by age four. Some are ready for algebra by age nine. Holding the children back in learning things when they're ready can cause behavior issues, boredom, and other problems.
While these are all great reasons to turn to the Montessori method of homeschooling, these are only a small reason as to why I have chosen this for our little school.
First off, Montessori was specifically designed for children with special needs. Because the system is designed for children to learn using all five senses, every learning ability and style benefits from it. Miss E benefits greatly from this because of her AD/HD and ODD. The Montessori Method keeps her interested and focused, and teaches her how to get along with others. Mr. J equally benefits from this method because of his early desire to read and do math.
Second, I spent several years prior to having children as an assistant in a Montessori classroom. For six year I learned the method and the works, and even considered going back to school to get my certification (online). If nothing more than to be a better educator for my children.
Finally, it's CHEAP, believe it or not. While there are several Montessori works that are difficult to replicate at home, most are made from items we have in our own cabinets and drawers. Homemade Montessori works are wonderful. There are several websites out there that will help you make your own.
One more thing:
The Montessori method fosters a love of learning but also a love of discipline. Not the kind of discipline that included belittling or harming a child, but rather self-discipline and care for one's self. Not to mention how to take care of others and be of service to each other. I am excited to get our little school going once and for all.
What is Montessori, you ask?
I'm glad you asked!
The Montessori Method was created by Maria Montessori at the turn of the century. Her book The Montessori Method was published in 1912. The premise of the Montessori method of teaching is that children learn best when they have the freedom to chose what they wish to learn and when. That being said, there is still a METHOD of teaching and a sequence.
For example, in a Montessori school, the learning always begins with Practical Life and Sensorial works. Practical Life is exactly what it sounds like: learning how to LIVE. Things like dressing, hygiene, cooking, sewing, cleaning, etc. Sensorial works are based around the five senses - sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell. Once children master these types of works, they are free, when they are ready, to move toward work dealing with language arts, math, and social sciences.
One of the greatest aspects of the Montessori method is that children teach each OTHER works they've mastered, and often older children will instruct the younger children. This is why the Montessori method lends itself well to homeschools with multiple aged children.
In a true Montessori school, you find classrooms separated by age groups that are larger than a traditional school might be. Rather than being broken up into Kindergarten, First, Second, etc. grades, the Montessori school is broken up into age ranges: 3-6; 6-9; 9-12; 12-15, etc. This so that older children have the opportunity to teach younger children. This is important from two perspectives: first, when a child is able to teach another child, it cements the lesson into their own mind, thus completing a "learning circle" (introduce, learn, practice, teach). For the younger child, they get to interact with an older mentor, so to speak.
Another benefit of the Montessori style of teaching is that every child goes at his or her own pace. This is important for so many reasons. So often we hinder a child's love of learning by trying to force them to learn something they might not be ready to learn. Potty training a child too early, for example, can lead to future issues with bowl with-holding or nighttime wetting. The same goes with subject-learning. A child that is not ready to read can become frustrated and belligerent when being forced into it. The opposite is true for children that are ready for something before the educational system says they are. Some children are ready to read and write by age four. Some are ready for algebra by age nine. Holding the children back in learning things when they're ready can cause behavior issues, boredom, and other problems.
While these are all great reasons to turn to the Montessori method of homeschooling, these are only a small reason as to why I have chosen this for our little school.
First off, Montessori was specifically designed for children with special needs. Because the system is designed for children to learn using all five senses, every learning ability and style benefits from it. Miss E benefits greatly from this because of her AD/HD and ODD. The Montessori Method keeps her interested and focused, and teaches her how to get along with others. Mr. J equally benefits from this method because of his early desire to read and do math.
Second, I spent several years prior to having children as an assistant in a Montessori classroom. For six year I learned the method and the works, and even considered going back to school to get my certification (online). If nothing more than to be a better educator for my children.
Finally, it's CHEAP, believe it or not. While there are several Montessori works that are difficult to replicate at home, most are made from items we have in our own cabinets and drawers. Homemade Montessori works are wonderful. There are several websites out there that will help you make your own.
One more thing:
The Montessori method fosters a love of learning but also a love of discipline. Not the kind of discipline that included belittling or harming a child, but rather self-discipline and care for one's self. Not to mention how to take care of others and be of service to each other. I am excited to get our little school going once and for all.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Three Months In - How and What We're Doing
Wow, has it REALLY been three months? It seems now like we're old hats at this in some ways, and still struggling in others.
We've had a lot of inconsistencies in our days, so we're having a hard time getting into a routine. I'm trying to remedy that by letting everyone in my life - friends, family members, and doctors - know that until 2:00 in the afternoon, we are just not available. This has helped some, but we've also had a struggle with bedtime routines.
My DREAM routine (for the kids) goes like this:
7:30-8:30 Wake up, have breakfast, get ready for the day, morning chores, and bible time.
8:30-9:30 Free time
9:30-12:00 All screens (TV/Computer/Etc) OFF - school time
(school time consists of the kids choosing their activities off the school shelf to do - they can choose whatever activity they like and spend as long as they want doing it)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Time, After Lunch Pick Up
1:00-2:00 Quiet/Free Time (what Mr. J calls "recess")
BUT things haven't really gone that way. It's been more like THIS:
Kids wake up anywhere between 9-10
The get up, lounge around in their PJ's, eat breakfast, watch TV, play video games, etc.
By 12 I just realized what time it was and invite the kids to do some sort of activity with me, which usually gets shot down in favor of Minecraft or The Sims.
Either that or we get a phone call from someone offering to take us or asking us to take them someplace.
Not to mention the fact that the kids are getting out of a sleep routine.
Some days they're not getting to sleep until close to MIDNIGHT.
Yeah . . .
So our days have been mostly filled with unschooling! And believe it or not, it's working quite well for us. Mr. J plays a lot of Minecraft. I actually have no problem with this - playing Minecraft has helped him learn spacial concepts, geometry, reading, typing, computer skills, problem solving . . . The list could go on and on. So I am a HUGE advocate for Minecraft!
He is also really into weather and tornadoes right now. He watches a lot of videos on tornadoes online, and really enjoys watching videos on tornado mods for Minecraft. I just purchased a connector for us to make a tornado with soda bottles, a "pet tornado" and a book about tornadoes for us to read together. He is really excited about these additions to our school shelf!
Miss E is into art, The Sims, crochet, cooking, and the Winx Club (she likes other fairies, but Winx is her biggest love right now). She takes art lessons from my mom, and I've been getting her Winx graphic novels (really big comic books!) to read. She's also played a LOT of Sims - the great thing about Sims is that with it being a life-simulation, she has learned a lot about money and home management, and even about responsibility (if you don't go to work, you lose your job. If you don't take care of your children, CPS comes and gets them!). She is learning to crochet, and I've just taught her how to do a single crochet stitch. Next on the list is the half double crochet, then the double crochet. Her love of cooking is huge as well. She loves making scrambled eggs, and quiche. She's also working on writing her own recipes.
Recently our math curriculum - Math U See - came in. The kids absolutely love it so far. We've only had a couple of lessons, but they are excited about it. Miss E especially - she's wanting to learn Algebra, but knows that she needs to know other stuff before she can get there.
So is it everything that I dreamed? No. It's not, I have to admit that. But every single day I see something else that cements my decision to homeschool my children. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I made the right decision. And even out of routine and without a set curriculum, my kids are learning EVERY SINGLE DAY. They're reading, they're doing math, they're doing science, and a lot of times they don't even realize it. So no, it's not anywhere CLOSE to what I'd dreamed. But it's GOOD. And that's good enough for me.
We've had a lot of inconsistencies in our days, so we're having a hard time getting into a routine. I'm trying to remedy that by letting everyone in my life - friends, family members, and doctors - know that until 2:00 in the afternoon, we are just not available. This has helped some, but we've also had a struggle with bedtime routines.
My DREAM routine (for the kids) goes like this:
7:30-8:30 Wake up, have breakfast, get ready for the day, morning chores, and bible time.
8:30-9:30 Free time
9:30-12:00 All screens (TV/Computer/Etc) OFF - school time
(school time consists of the kids choosing their activities off the school shelf to do - they can choose whatever activity they like and spend as long as they want doing it)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Time, After Lunch Pick Up
1:00-2:00 Quiet/Free Time (what Mr. J calls "recess")
BUT things haven't really gone that way. It's been more like THIS:
Kids wake up anywhere between 9-10
The get up, lounge around in their PJ's, eat breakfast, watch TV, play video games, etc.
By 12 I just realized what time it was and invite the kids to do some sort of activity with me, which usually gets shot down in favor of Minecraft or The Sims.
Either that or we get a phone call from someone offering to take us or asking us to take them someplace.
Not to mention the fact that the kids are getting out of a sleep routine.
Some days they're not getting to sleep until close to MIDNIGHT.
Yeah . . .
So our days have been mostly filled with unschooling! And believe it or not, it's working quite well for us. Mr. J plays a lot of Minecraft. I actually have no problem with this - playing Minecraft has helped him learn spacial concepts, geometry, reading, typing, computer skills, problem solving . . . The list could go on and on. So I am a HUGE advocate for Minecraft!
He is also really into weather and tornadoes right now. He watches a lot of videos on tornadoes online, and really enjoys watching videos on tornado mods for Minecraft. I just purchased a connector for us to make a tornado with soda bottles, a "pet tornado" and a book about tornadoes for us to read together. He is really excited about these additions to our school shelf!
Miss E is into art, The Sims, crochet, cooking, and the Winx Club (she likes other fairies, but Winx is her biggest love right now). She takes art lessons from my mom, and I've been getting her Winx graphic novels (really big comic books!) to read. She's also played a LOT of Sims - the great thing about Sims is that with it being a life-simulation, she has learned a lot about money and home management, and even about responsibility (if you don't go to work, you lose your job. If you don't take care of your children, CPS comes and gets them!). She is learning to crochet, and I've just taught her how to do a single crochet stitch. Next on the list is the half double crochet, then the double crochet. Her love of cooking is huge as well. She loves making scrambled eggs, and quiche. She's also working on writing her own recipes.
Recently our math curriculum - Math U See - came in. The kids absolutely love it so far. We've only had a couple of lessons, but they are excited about it. Miss E especially - she's wanting to learn Algebra, but knows that she needs to know other stuff before she can get there.
So is it everything that I dreamed? No. It's not, I have to admit that. But every single day I see something else that cements my decision to homeschool my children. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I made the right decision. And even out of routine and without a set curriculum, my kids are learning EVERY SINGLE DAY. They're reading, they're doing math, they're doing science, and a lot of times they don't even realize it. So no, it's not anywhere CLOSE to what I'd dreamed. But it's GOOD. And that's good enough for me.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Quicky Blog - Great Givaway!!
Okay, so I'm not one to blog twice in one day, but this is too good to not share! My good friend Jennifer over at The Fashion Hungry Mommy is doing an AMAZING giveaway that is wonderful for anyone with kids, and invaluable to anyone that is homeschooling!!
Check out her giveaway here!
These are great supplements and are just plain fun!
So, go check out her blog right now, and while your at it, enter her giveaway too! Oh, and find her on facebook and twitter!
Now, shoo!
Check out her giveaway here!
These are great supplements and are just plain fun!
So, go check out her blog right now, and while your at it, enter her giveaway too! Oh, and find her on facebook and twitter!
Now, shoo!
Homeschool Methods: A Look Into Traditional Homeschooling
What does one picture when one thinks about homeschooling?
Children sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by books and workbooks?
Kids lounging on a couch reading a really good book?
A child counting out her change in the grocery store while paying for her own toy?
A family giggling and laughing while having fun at a museum?
Believe it or not, these are all bits and pieces of homeschooling. Learning doesn't just stop once the books are closed, it continues on endlessly.
Different homeschooling techniques use different methods to reach the initial learning, and in this series I will delve deeper into several of them.
My ultimate goal is selfish, I must admit. I am hoping that through writing these posts I will come to a better understanding about different techniques and be able to make a better informed choice about which method will best fit and benefit our family.
Today, I begin a study on the traditional homeschool method.
There are actually several branches of traditional homeschooling, some of which include Classical Homeschooling and Charlotte Mason, among others. Some are more rigid than others, but they all encompass the same basic premise.
First, all traditional homeschooling methods are based on curriculum.
This can be store bought or home made, but it will have at least reading, writing, and math - and many also include science and history. This curriculum may include everything from books to workbooks and worksheets.
Now, when it comes to curriculum, there are SO MANY out there!! From Sonlight to A Beka, from Charlotte Mason to Saxon, not to mention the HUNDREDS of homemade curriculums out there that one can find on the internet. It's mind boggling, to say the least. So how would you pick one? Read and research! Do you know someone that has a certain type of curriculum that you're looking into? Ask to see one of their books! Most homeschooling families will be more than happy to lend out items to those just starting out. If that's proving to be too hard, try visiting your local library or even your local book store to get a glimpse. Also, some companies will allow you to download a sample lesson plan for you to get a feel for what they're about.
Most traditional homeschoolers have a set schedule (some more relaxed than others), and almost all keep some kind of record. A typical day for a traditional homeschooler might look something like this:
9am Math, 9:30 am Spelling, 10:00 am, Language arts, 10:30 am Break, 11:00 am Reading, 11:30 am History/social studies, 12:00 pm lunch, 12:30 pm break/recess, 1:00 science, 1:30 pm music, 2:00 language . . .
so on, so forth.
Others may be more relaxed, with only a to-do list that the child needs to accomplish that day with the freedom to complete each assignment whenever the child wants, so long as it's finished by the end of the day.
How you decide to schedule your day really depends on you, your child, and your families needs. If your child is someone that can work independently, then a more relaxed schedule might work really well for you. If he/she needs a little more one on one help, a more fixed schedule might be your thing. The important thing to remember is that, really, there are no rules!
So, after reading a LOT and talking to other homeschoolers, I have come up with pro's and con's of traditional homeschooling.
Pros:
There is no doubt that your child is learning exactly what he/she "needs to know".
Many children thrive on structure.
There is little doubt on "what" to teach - most curriculums have it planned out for you.
IF (God-forbid) your child ever has to return to public school for WHATEVER reason, you can be certain that they will most likely be on-par with (if not ahead of) their peers.
Having a set schedule and assignments prepares kids for the future, weather it be in the workplace or in college.
Having a good curriculum also ensures that your child is getting the requirements needed for college entrance
Cons:
Time consuming - not only do you have to research curriculum and write lesson plans, but you have to be readily available 24/7 to help your children with whatever subject they may have difficulty with.
Some children can get into a mindset that learning only happens at certain times of the day.
Some children don't do well with too much structure
Some people believe that traditional homeschooling hinders a child's learning process
Some also believe that the "educational standards" we have for children is based on the government's standards, not necessarily what is right for the child, and that traditional homeschooling fosters these standards.
Who is traditional homeschooling right for?
Anyone that wants more structure or a set standard for learning.
Also, children that have set goals in mind for their future would benefit from having a structured curriculum with those goals in mind.
Children that work well by themselves also do well with traditional homeschooling.
So there's my take on traditional homeschooling! The next post in this series will delve into a method called Unschooling (that you may have heard me talk about).
Children sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by books and workbooks?
Kids lounging on a couch reading a really good book?
A child counting out her change in the grocery store while paying for her own toy?
A family giggling and laughing while having fun at a museum?
Believe it or not, these are all bits and pieces of homeschooling. Learning doesn't just stop once the books are closed, it continues on endlessly.
Different homeschooling techniques use different methods to reach the initial learning, and in this series I will delve deeper into several of them.
My ultimate goal is selfish, I must admit. I am hoping that through writing these posts I will come to a better understanding about different techniques and be able to make a better informed choice about which method will best fit and benefit our family.
Today, I begin a study on the traditional homeschool method.
There are actually several branches of traditional homeschooling, some of which include Classical Homeschooling and Charlotte Mason, among others. Some are more rigid than others, but they all encompass the same basic premise.
First, all traditional homeschooling methods are based on curriculum.
This can be store bought or home made, but it will have at least reading, writing, and math - and many also include science and history. This curriculum may include everything from books to workbooks and worksheets.
Now, when it comes to curriculum, there are SO MANY out there!! From Sonlight to A Beka, from Charlotte Mason to Saxon, not to mention the HUNDREDS of homemade curriculums out there that one can find on the internet. It's mind boggling, to say the least. So how would you pick one? Read and research! Do you know someone that has a certain type of curriculum that you're looking into? Ask to see one of their books! Most homeschooling families will be more than happy to lend out items to those just starting out. If that's proving to be too hard, try visiting your local library or even your local book store to get a glimpse. Also, some companies will allow you to download a sample lesson plan for you to get a feel for what they're about.
Most traditional homeschoolers have a set schedule (some more relaxed than others), and almost all keep some kind of record. A typical day for a traditional homeschooler might look something like this:
9am Math, 9:30 am Spelling, 10:00 am, Language arts, 10:30 am Break, 11:00 am Reading, 11:30 am History/social studies, 12:00 pm lunch, 12:30 pm break/recess, 1:00 science, 1:30 pm music, 2:00 language . . .
so on, so forth.
Others may be more relaxed, with only a to-do list that the child needs to accomplish that day with the freedom to complete each assignment whenever the child wants, so long as it's finished by the end of the day.
How you decide to schedule your day really depends on you, your child, and your families needs. If your child is someone that can work independently, then a more relaxed schedule might work really well for you. If he/she needs a little more one on one help, a more fixed schedule might be your thing. The important thing to remember is that, really, there are no rules!
So, after reading a LOT and talking to other homeschoolers, I have come up with pro's and con's of traditional homeschooling.
Pros:
There is no doubt that your child is learning exactly what he/she "needs to know".
Many children thrive on structure.
There is little doubt on "what" to teach - most curriculums have it planned out for you.
IF (God-forbid) your child ever has to return to public school for WHATEVER reason, you can be certain that they will most likely be on-par with (if not ahead of) their peers.
Having a set schedule and assignments prepares kids for the future, weather it be in the workplace or in college.
Having a good curriculum also ensures that your child is getting the requirements needed for college entrance
Cons:
Time consuming - not only do you have to research curriculum and write lesson plans, but you have to be readily available 24/7 to help your children with whatever subject they may have difficulty with.
Some children can get into a mindset that learning only happens at certain times of the day.
Some children don't do well with too much structure
Some people believe that traditional homeschooling hinders a child's learning process
Some also believe that the "educational standards" we have for children is based on the government's standards, not necessarily what is right for the child, and that traditional homeschooling fosters these standards.
Who is traditional homeschooling right for?
Anyone that wants more structure or a set standard for learning.
Also, children that have set goals in mind for their future would benefit from having a structured curriculum with those goals in mind.
Children that work well by themselves also do well with traditional homeschooling.
So there's my take on traditional homeschooling! The next post in this series will delve into a method called Unschooling (that you may have heard me talk about).
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
More Change Coming Our Way . . .
This week is Mr. J's last week of school.
I wasn't planning on starting homeschooling this year. UNTIL.
Until I realized that my five year old is reading at an almost-first-grade level.
Until I realized that my five year old is doing addition and subtraction.
Until I realized that my five year old is so far ahead of the others in his class that he's getting bored and starting to get in trouble more often.
You see, as amazing and wonderful as his teacher is (and she truly IS amazing and wonderful!), her hands are tied by the school system. The school says that children Mr. J's age can only be taught certain things in school, and that anything beyond that he's "not ready for". This bothers me. As a former Montessori aide, I know the importance of child-led learning. Who are we to say when a child is ready for something? I was ready for reading at age two. My daughter, at age 9, is just now ready for multiplication. Mr. J is ready for all of this at age five. Putting limits like that on our children's learning is, somehow, wrong for me. So, after much prayer, we decided that this is the best time to start homeschooling with Mr. J.
This was also Miss E and Mr. J's brother, Mr. G's last week of school. Actually, yesterday was Mr. G's last day. His mother removed him from school to study for his GED. This makes me a little uncomfortable in some ways - he is only a sophomore in high school after all (although he will be 17 next week). I am choosing to look at it as another form of homeschooling. A form of unschooling, if you will, where Mr. G will be allowed to finally find himself and pursue his true dream of video game design sooner rather than later. A GED is not the end all be all, after all. In fact, I've met a few doctors that went on to be quite successful with GED's. It is possible and can happen. So my hopes remain high for my oldest.
Mr. G's transition from our home back to his mother's is going to be a challenge. The younger ones already miss their big brother, and it hasn't even been 24 hours yet. But I am confident that these transitions are going to bring positive change to our household.
I have ordered math curriculum for both Miss E and Mr. J. At first I was leaning toward unschooling, but I truly feel that they both need this structure. They will also get handwriting and spelling. As for reading, history, geography, science and the like, I feel those subjects are great for unschooling in my family - after all, both children are avid readers, and living in the country things like history, science, and the like happen all around us and are found out constantly.
Our little school is starting to come together nicely. I am getting excited, as are the children. Miss E is actually excited about doing math, and Mr. J can't wait to start his new phonics books (they are Star Wars Themed - my kids are total nerds).
Our official start date will be April 1st. Almost exactly three months since we started the deschooling process with Miss E. Mr. J, being in preschool, doesn't need as much time as his sister did, so he will get less than a month of deschooling.
I am up for the challenge. I am ready.
I wasn't planning on starting homeschooling this year. UNTIL.
Until I realized that my five year old is reading at an almost-first-grade level.
Until I realized that my five year old is doing addition and subtraction.
Until I realized that my five year old is so far ahead of the others in his class that he's getting bored and starting to get in trouble more often.
You see, as amazing and wonderful as his teacher is (and she truly IS amazing and wonderful!), her hands are tied by the school system. The school says that children Mr. J's age can only be taught certain things in school, and that anything beyond that he's "not ready for". This bothers me. As a former Montessori aide, I know the importance of child-led learning. Who are we to say when a child is ready for something? I was ready for reading at age two. My daughter, at age 9, is just now ready for multiplication. Mr. J is ready for all of this at age five. Putting limits like that on our children's learning is, somehow, wrong for me. So, after much prayer, we decided that this is the best time to start homeschooling with Mr. J.
This was also Miss E and Mr. J's brother, Mr. G's last week of school. Actually, yesterday was Mr. G's last day. His mother removed him from school to study for his GED. This makes me a little uncomfortable in some ways - he is only a sophomore in high school after all (although he will be 17 next week). I am choosing to look at it as another form of homeschooling. A form of unschooling, if you will, where Mr. G will be allowed to finally find himself and pursue his true dream of video game design sooner rather than later. A GED is not the end all be all, after all. In fact, I've met a few doctors that went on to be quite successful with GED's. It is possible and can happen. So my hopes remain high for my oldest.
Mr. G's transition from our home back to his mother's is going to be a challenge. The younger ones already miss their big brother, and it hasn't even been 24 hours yet. But I am confident that these transitions are going to bring positive change to our household.
I have ordered math curriculum for both Miss E and Mr. J. At first I was leaning toward unschooling, but I truly feel that they both need this structure. They will also get handwriting and spelling. As for reading, history, geography, science and the like, I feel those subjects are great for unschooling in my family - after all, both children are avid readers, and living in the country things like history, science, and the like happen all around us and are found out constantly.
Our little school is starting to come together nicely. I am getting excited, as are the children. Miss E is actually excited about doing math, and Mr. J can't wait to start his new phonics books (they are Star Wars Themed - my kids are total nerds).
Our official start date will be April 1st. Almost exactly three months since we started the deschooling process with Miss E. Mr. J, being in preschool, doesn't need as much time as his sister did, so he will get less than a month of deschooling.
I am up for the challenge. I am ready.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Deschooling: What Do You DO All Day?
One of the things that public school-to-homeschool people recommend is taking some time to deschool yourself and your child from the public school mindset.
This gives you both time to get to know each other and gives the child time to explore his or her interests, and find out just who they are and who they want to be. This process can take quite a while. In fact, the recommended time frame is one month for each year your child has been in school.
There are no books, no curriculum, no tests, no assignments.
Now, not everyone chooses this route - in fact, many parents that go from public school to traditional homeschooling skip this step altogether.
But for those of us that are deschooling (and for those that did in the past) there is one question on everyone's minds:
WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY???
Well, the simplest answer is:
nothing
Now of course, that's not the most ACCURATE answer.
In fact, it's not true at all.
During our time deschooling (which we're undergoing now and will be for some time) we have:
visited hospitals
During our time deschooling (which we're undergoing now and will be for some time) we have:
visited hospitals
seen courthouses
played with animals
went for walks
gone to the library
gone shopping
played video games
read books
looked at x-rays
talked with LOTS of people
helped on a farm
watched movies
studied feathers
made art
made gifts for friends
cooked
joked
played
crocheted
made plastic canvas art
snuggled
sang
danced
giggled
To be honest, we didn't do THIS MUCH when Miss E was in public school!
And there are so many other things we have planned:
A trip to the zoo
A trip to a farm
A trip to a dairy
A trip to an art museum
Trips to the park
painting
clay sculpting
more reading
and much, much more.
So, as you can see, deschooling is just doing nothing.
But at the same time, it's also trying EVERYTHING!
For more information on deschooling your child, visit these links:
Unschooling guru Sandra Dodd's thoughts on deschooling
Tammy Takahashi gives a traditional homeschooling view on deschooling here
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Traditional, Classical, Unschooling OH MY!!!
There are about 50,000 different ways to homeschool a child.
You think I'm kidding? Google it.
There are several "techniques" or "philosophies" on homeschooling.
There's the traditional method - you have a curriculum, you schedule your day like a school day, kids do work in workbooks, take tests, that kind of thing.
There's the classical method - which is primarily based on literature and philosphy.
There's the theme or unit based method - where your curriculum circulates through different themes and ideas.
Then there's unschooling - which is a child-lead learning/teaching philosophy.
Then within each of these methods there's FURTHER ideas like curriculum specifics, ways to do it, and when to do it.
Seriously. It's enough to make one's head spin.
Have you ever heard of getting information overload?
I have it.
I have printed out free curriculum, ordered books, read online articles, journals, magazines message boards, facebook and yahoo groups . . . And that's just in the last month.
See, I want to make sure that I'm doing this RIGHT. I don't want Miss E to ever look at me one day and say, "Mom, why did you pull me out of school? You're an IDIOT."
Okay. She would never actually say THAT, but you get the point.
My largest amount of research has gone into a very radical method of homeschooling - unschooling. You'll hear me talk about this a LOT I imagine. In fact I just ordered Sandra Dodd's book "Big Book of Unschooling" and can't wait to learn more about it.
In a nutshell - unschooling is about letting your child take control of his or her own life and letting learning happen through life experiences on a daily basis. There is no schedule. There is no curriculum. There are no breaks or vacations. It is an organic learning process. Think there's no way a child can learn without a textbook?
We went outside and made discoveries of flowers and feathers which lead to a combined discussion on botany and ornithology.
We went shopping and Miss E counted her change which was a math lesson on both money and counting by fives.
We watched Scooby Doo which led to a conversation on the Tudor family (it was a renaissance fair episode) and Renaissance England.
Miss E has learned - AND RETAINED - more in the last two weeks of "doing nothing" than she did with textbooks and tests. And here's the fun part - I've learned a few things too. I've learned that "I don't know - let's go look that up" is a perfectly acceptable answer. I've learned that Mary Queen of Scots was NOT Elizabeth's sister ("Bloody Mary") like I thought (HOW did I not know that??). I've learned that bird feathers and flower stems have similar compositions, for different reasons. Every day I learn with my daughter, and sometimes I learn FROM her.
Am I certain that unschooling is going to be the right choice for us? Not one bit. But I have a few more months to figure that out. In the meantime, I'm going to continue to research different curriculum and different methods of homeschooling. And I am also going to enjoy spending time with my daughter and enjoying every moment I get with her.
You think I'm kidding? Google it.
There are several "techniques" or "philosophies" on homeschooling.
There's the traditional method - you have a curriculum, you schedule your day like a school day, kids do work in workbooks, take tests, that kind of thing.
There's the classical method - which is primarily based on literature and philosphy.
There's the theme or unit based method - where your curriculum circulates through different themes and ideas.
Then there's unschooling - which is a child-lead learning/teaching philosophy.
Then within each of these methods there's FURTHER ideas like curriculum specifics, ways to do it, and when to do it.
Seriously. It's enough to make one's head spin.
Have you ever heard of getting information overload?
I have it.
I have printed out free curriculum, ordered books, read online articles, journals, magazines message boards, facebook and yahoo groups . . . And that's just in the last month.
See, I want to make sure that I'm doing this RIGHT. I don't want Miss E to ever look at me one day and say, "Mom, why did you pull me out of school? You're an IDIOT."
Okay. She would never actually say THAT, but you get the point.
My largest amount of research has gone into a very radical method of homeschooling - unschooling. You'll hear me talk about this a LOT I imagine. In fact I just ordered Sandra Dodd's book "Big Book of Unschooling" and can't wait to learn more about it.
In a nutshell - unschooling is about letting your child take control of his or her own life and letting learning happen through life experiences on a daily basis. There is no schedule. There is no curriculum. There are no breaks or vacations. It is an organic learning process. Think there's no way a child can learn without a textbook?
We went outside and made discoveries of flowers and feathers which lead to a combined discussion on botany and ornithology.
We went shopping and Miss E counted her change which was a math lesson on both money and counting by fives.
We watched Scooby Doo which led to a conversation on the Tudor family (it was a renaissance fair episode) and Renaissance England.
Miss E has learned - AND RETAINED - more in the last two weeks of "doing nothing" than she did with textbooks and tests. And here's the fun part - I've learned a few things too. I've learned that "I don't know - let's go look that up" is a perfectly acceptable answer. I've learned that Mary Queen of Scots was NOT Elizabeth's sister ("Bloody Mary") like I thought (HOW did I not know that??). I've learned that bird feathers and flower stems have similar compositions, for different reasons. Every day I learn with my daughter, and sometimes I learn FROM her.
Am I certain that unschooling is going to be the right choice for us? Not one bit. But I have a few more months to figure that out. In the meantime, I'm going to continue to research different curriculum and different methods of homeschooling. And I am also going to enjoy spending time with my daughter and enjoying every moment I get with her.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The First Month: Part II
For some background on why we chose to homeschool, visit my blog SuperMom Blues.
For the first part of this story go here.
Week 3 marked a pivotal moment for us. First of all, it was the moment that I realized there was more to homeschool than just sitting around a table drilling math facts. Second, it was the week I realized just how much Miss E hated writing. Finally, it was the week that showed me that, regardless of Christmas break, we both needed time to "decompress" from the public school mindset.
For me, teaching was all I'd ever wanted to do in life. Having my child home with me was the perfect opportunity for me to live that dream. I was all set to play "teacher" - ready to "get tough" when needed. And I did get tough - sometimes a little too tough.
My daughter throws temper fits like you wouldn't believe. She has the ability to make one's jaw drop when watching her throw one of her "fits". Her meltdowns put John McEnroe to shame. So you can imagine my surprise when I found her attempting to journal something, and she was just sitting there, silently weeping. My heart broke. I sat down next to her and immediately started asking questions. I thought maybe the assignment was too hard - maybe I was asking too much? But no, it was neither of those things. The simple answer was, she couldn't think of anything to write about and she was embarrassed and afraid of disappointing me. She thought that she would get a bad grade on it.
Now keep in mind that we'd had NO discussion on grades whatsoever. In fact, I wasn't even thinking about them at the time. But it was so ingrained in her mind that everything she did would be graded - watched, judged . . .
I had heard of "deschooling" before, but kind of just pushed it aside. After all, she was ONLY in third grade. How much time could she need?
Those in the know say that deschooling should happen over a period of months equal to the number of years that a child has been in school. So, since Miss E has been in school four years, including Kindergarten, she would require four months to deschool.
FOUR MONTHS?!?!?!
Yes. Four months. But here's the clincher During that four months, the child is allowed to spend the day doing whatever they want - even if it's playing video games or watching TV. It is time to be considered a long vacation - for the both of you.
Now, reading that set me on edge a bit. Isn't four months extreme? I can understand a month, maybe. Or two. But four??
Then I realized something else. Miss E wasn't ready after almost a month of being out of school for Christmas break. Neither was I, for that matter. We both need time to break away from old habits and old mindsets. This is a bit of a challenge in some respects, as her brothers and sister are both still in public school for the time. But it's also been enjoyable.
We started the deschooling process in week 4. We took time to breathe and found feathers and flowers on the ground for a future art project. We went to the library where Miss E took it upon herself to check out books on Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. We made trips to the outside world and she learned how to count change. The most challenging part of the last couple of weeks for Miss E was when the cashier at a local thrift store had her count her change. She wasn't prepared for the "quiz", and neither was I for that matter.
There are also some changes happening with Miss E. First of all, she is getting herself ready in the morning. This is a huge step for us, because until now it was always ME getting her ready. Second, she has had fewer meltdowns. She, so far, seems generally HAPPY for the first time in a long time. She's smiling and laughing more. She's curious more. She WANTS to learn - and that's what it's all about.
My next post will be exploring technique and curriculum. Thanks for joining our journey!
For the first part of this story go here.
Week 3 marked a pivotal moment for us. First of all, it was the moment that I realized there was more to homeschool than just sitting around a table drilling math facts. Second, it was the week I realized just how much Miss E hated writing. Finally, it was the week that showed me that, regardless of Christmas break, we both needed time to "decompress" from the public school mindset.
For me, teaching was all I'd ever wanted to do in life. Having my child home with me was the perfect opportunity for me to live that dream. I was all set to play "teacher" - ready to "get tough" when needed. And I did get tough - sometimes a little too tough.
My daughter throws temper fits like you wouldn't believe. She has the ability to make one's jaw drop when watching her throw one of her "fits". Her meltdowns put John McEnroe to shame. So you can imagine my surprise when I found her attempting to journal something, and she was just sitting there, silently weeping. My heart broke. I sat down next to her and immediately started asking questions. I thought maybe the assignment was too hard - maybe I was asking too much? But no, it was neither of those things. The simple answer was, she couldn't think of anything to write about and she was embarrassed and afraid of disappointing me. She thought that she would get a bad grade on it.
Now keep in mind that we'd had NO discussion on grades whatsoever. In fact, I wasn't even thinking about them at the time. But it was so ingrained in her mind that everything she did would be graded - watched, judged . . .
I had heard of "deschooling" before, but kind of just pushed it aside. After all, she was ONLY in third grade. How much time could she need?
Those in the know say that deschooling should happen over a period of months equal to the number of years that a child has been in school. So, since Miss E has been in school four years, including Kindergarten, she would require four months to deschool.
FOUR MONTHS?!?!?!
Yes. Four months. But here's the clincher During that four months, the child is allowed to spend the day doing whatever they want - even if it's playing video games or watching TV. It is time to be considered a long vacation - for the both of you.
Now, reading that set me on edge a bit. Isn't four months extreme? I can understand a month, maybe. Or two. But four??
Then I realized something else. Miss E wasn't ready after almost a month of being out of school for Christmas break. Neither was I, for that matter. We both need time to break away from old habits and old mindsets. This is a bit of a challenge in some respects, as her brothers and sister are both still in public school for the time. But it's also been enjoyable.
We started the deschooling process in week 4. We took time to breathe and found feathers and flowers on the ground for a future art project. We went to the library where Miss E took it upon herself to check out books on Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. We made trips to the outside world and she learned how to count change. The most challenging part of the last couple of weeks for Miss E was when the cashier at a local thrift store had her count her change. She wasn't prepared for the "quiz", and neither was I for that matter.
There are also some changes happening with Miss E. First of all, she is getting herself ready in the morning. This is a huge step for us, because until now it was always ME getting her ready. Second, she has had fewer meltdowns. She, so far, seems generally HAPPY for the first time in a long time. She's smiling and laughing more. She's curious more. She WANTS to learn - and that's what it's all about.
My next post will be exploring technique and curriculum. Thanks for joining our journey!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The First Month . . .
For some background on why we chose to homeschool, visit my blog SuperMom Blues.
December 2012:
When we (okay -I) decided to homeschool Miss E it was one of the toughest decisions I'd ever had to make in my life. For one thing, I was going to be with my very high-strung daughter 24/7. For another, I would have to give up my free time. Also, I LIKED her teachers! In fact, her PE teacher was my husband's cousin, and her homeroom teacher was HIS wife - these were people I spent time with outside of school at family gatherings and reunions. I was afraid of hurting their feelings! My final thought was "how am I going to do this???"
I was actually quite surprised at the support I got from outside sources, however. Her teachers were 100% on board. They'd miss her, but they understood that this was probably best for her. Her final day of class was the day of their Christmas party. She was ecstatic to be homeschooled.
January 2013: Her excitement was so grand that she designed her own curriculum - she wanted astronomy, math (specifically multiplication), reading, and computer work. I agreed with all the above, but added journaling and history to the mix. Thus our homeschool was set. We made a few trips to Half Price Books and Mardel's, found lots of what we wanted. Miss E was so excited that she didn't want to wait. She wanted to begin on her birthday, January 5. Before either of her brothers would even return to school.
So, we did. On January 5, 2013 we sat at the kitchen table to do school. We didn't take any time to deschool, didn't even think about doing it any other way. I had planned on saving money for a full, more expensive curriculum later.
For the first week, things went well. The Astronomy book (based on Creationism) was a little more preachy than I liked, but Miss E enjoyed it. I had given her a math assessment to take, and she did so joyfully. We did her math at the table using homemade manipulatives. Astronomy was on the couch, as was reading. And then there was journaling . . .
Miss E hates to write. It's very difficult for her. You see, she has something called dysgraphia. This is a form of dyslexia that is translated into writing rather that reading. Same connection, different location. She can read just fine - beautifully, in fact - with no switching of letters or flipping of numbers. But the connection is lost somewhere between reading and writing. Along with the dysgraphia she has been diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ODD (oppositional defiance disorder). These three things together can mean an explosion when the right ingredients are mixed in just the right proportions. Journaling was the precise mix needed.
Needless to say, trying to get her to write in her journal was a nightmare.
I tried to make it fun by making it whatever she wanted to write about that day.
I tried to make it simple by telling her she could write as much or as little (even one sentence) as she liked.
I tried to bully her into it by threatening punishments for not doing.
I begged. I pleaded. I coerced. I bribed.
She melted down.
It was sometime during week 3 that I had an epiphany.
Maybe I was going about this thing wrong . . .
It was at this point that I learned about Sandra Dodd, John Holt, and something called Unschooling.
(To Be Continued . . .)
December 2012:
When we (okay -I) decided to homeschool Miss E it was one of the toughest decisions I'd ever had to make in my life. For one thing, I was going to be with my very high-strung daughter 24/7. For another, I would have to give up my free time. Also, I LIKED her teachers! In fact, her PE teacher was my husband's cousin, and her homeroom teacher was HIS wife - these were people I spent time with outside of school at family gatherings and reunions. I was afraid of hurting their feelings! My final thought was "how am I going to do this???"
I was actually quite surprised at the support I got from outside sources, however. Her teachers were 100% on board. They'd miss her, but they understood that this was probably best for her. Her final day of class was the day of their Christmas party. She was ecstatic to be homeschooled.
January 2013: Her excitement was so grand that she designed her own curriculum - she wanted astronomy, math (specifically multiplication), reading, and computer work. I agreed with all the above, but added journaling and history to the mix. Thus our homeschool was set. We made a few trips to Half Price Books and Mardel's, found lots of what we wanted. Miss E was so excited that she didn't want to wait. She wanted to begin on her birthday, January 5. Before either of her brothers would even return to school.
So, we did. On January 5, 2013 we sat at the kitchen table to do school. We didn't take any time to deschool, didn't even think about doing it any other way. I had planned on saving money for a full, more expensive curriculum later.
For the first week, things went well. The Astronomy book (based on Creationism) was a little more preachy than I liked, but Miss E enjoyed it. I had given her a math assessment to take, and she did so joyfully. We did her math at the table using homemade manipulatives. Astronomy was on the couch, as was reading. And then there was journaling . . .
Miss E hates to write. It's very difficult for her. You see, she has something called dysgraphia. This is a form of dyslexia that is translated into writing rather that reading. Same connection, different location. She can read just fine - beautifully, in fact - with no switching of letters or flipping of numbers. But the connection is lost somewhere between reading and writing. Along with the dysgraphia she has been diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ODD (oppositional defiance disorder). These three things together can mean an explosion when the right ingredients are mixed in just the right proportions. Journaling was the precise mix needed.
Needless to say, trying to get her to write in her journal was a nightmare.
I tried to make it fun by making it whatever she wanted to write about that day.
I tried to make it simple by telling her she could write as much or as little (even one sentence) as she liked.
I tried to bully her into it by threatening punishments for not doing.
I begged. I pleaded. I coerced. I bribed.
She melted down.
It was sometime during week 3 that I had an epiphany.
Maybe I was going about this thing wrong . . .
It was at this point that I learned about Sandra Dodd, John Holt, and something called Unschooling.
(To Be Continued . . .)
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