This past couple of weeks I've moved my office back into my home, leaving me with both more time and more demands on that time. It's hard to juggle housekeeping, paid work, homeschooling, and recreation sometimes. However, nothing is more rewarding than having the kids laying in the living room (where my office is) working on schoolwork while I do my bookkeeping.
I love being a homeschooling mom.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Worried about Homeschooling? Relax!
Really. Relax.
We homeschooling parents put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Society puts a fair amount of pressure on us as well. Do our children have the social skills requisite for success? Do they interact well with their peers? Are they learning everything everyone else seems to think they need to know? And....how are we going to teach them calculus?
First - remember that most learning occurs from a child-led perspective. That doesn't mean complete parental hands-off, but it does mean that when your child shows an interest in something, let them satisfy that interest. Are they interested in gemstones and crystals? Have them grow rock candy to see how crystals form. Buy them some interesting rocks at a metaphysical shop. Show them geodes, and maybe even go rock-hounding with them.
We just finished studying Galileo and Copernicus. Jared is very interested now in the solar system, stars, and telescopes. We'll go to the planetarium, head out to the West Desert here in Utah to look at the stars, get pictures of the planets for his room, make a mobile of the solar system.
The point here is that ... kids will learn. All a parent really has to do is give them the tools to do it. Homeschool doesn't necessarily mean "school at home" - and by relaxing about school, my kids have more freedom to explore what they want to learn.
Oh, and calculus? Learn it right along with the kids, find someone who is good at it and can teach it, use a homeschool co-op, or allow them to dual-enroll with the high school or community college. You don't have to know everything - or even very much! to homeschool effectively.
So relax! If you're putting any effort at all into your kids' education, odds are pretty good you're going to do better than the government schools ever could
We homeschooling parents put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Society puts a fair amount of pressure on us as well. Do our children have the social skills requisite for success? Do they interact well with their peers? Are they learning everything everyone else seems to think they need to know? And....how are we going to teach them calculus?
First - remember that most learning occurs from a child-led perspective. That doesn't mean complete parental hands-off, but it does mean that when your child shows an interest in something, let them satisfy that interest. Are they interested in gemstones and crystals? Have them grow rock candy to see how crystals form. Buy them some interesting rocks at a metaphysical shop. Show them geodes, and maybe even go rock-hounding with them.
We just finished studying Galileo and Copernicus. Jared is very interested now in the solar system, stars, and telescopes. We'll go to the planetarium, head out to the West Desert here in Utah to look at the stars, get pictures of the planets for his room, make a mobile of the solar system.
The point here is that ... kids will learn. All a parent really has to do is give them the tools to do it. Homeschool doesn't necessarily mean "school at home" - and by relaxing about school, my kids have more freedom to explore what they want to learn.
Oh, and calculus? Learn it right along with the kids, find someone who is good at it and can teach it, use a homeschool co-op, or allow them to dual-enroll with the high school or community college. You don't have to know everything - or even very much! to homeschool effectively.
So relax! If you're putting any effort at all into your kids' education, odds are pretty good you're going to do better than the government schools ever could
Monday, September 20, 2010
And people wonder why I homeschool....
On Friday evening:
Me: Son, you've gotta go to bed. Daddy will be here early in the morning to pick you up.
Jared: But, can I bring my math? I'm adding and subtracting HUNDREDS!
Me: Yes, I guess. You may also sit at your desk and do math for a while, if you want.
Jared: Oh, thank you, Mommy, thank you.
Me: (bemused) Do you like math?
Jared: Oh, yes, I love math!
He then dashed off to do math work. He's well into 2nd grade math, nearly half a grade level ahead of his peers, and reads well, too. He's competing with Mercedes to see if he can catch up with her.
And people wonder why I homeschool. What a joy to see my son loving math, enjoying music, art, and begging for a lesson in history. When else do I get to have the kids gathered around my computer looking at pictures of the planets and discussing the solar system? How many 1st and 3rd graders do you know who know Copernicus and Galileo?
Me: Son, you've gotta go to bed. Daddy will be here early in the morning to pick you up.
Jared: But, can I bring my math? I'm adding and subtracting HUNDREDS!
Me: Yes, I guess. You may also sit at your desk and do math for a while, if you want.
Jared: Oh, thank you, Mommy, thank you.
Me: (bemused) Do you like math?
Jared: Oh, yes, I love math!
He then dashed off to do math work. He's well into 2nd grade math, nearly half a grade level ahead of his peers, and reads well, too. He's competing with Mercedes to see if he can catch up with her.
And people wonder why I homeschool. What a joy to see my son loving math, enjoying music, art, and begging for a lesson in history. When else do I get to have the kids gathered around my computer looking at pictures of the planets and discussing the solar system? How many 1st and 3rd graders do you know who know Copernicus and Galileo?
Friday, September 17, 2010
What? Me, Organized?
I was telling a friend of mine about my day. Honestly, I don't think I do that much more than any other mom - I just keep my kids close to me while I do it. I get up the same time as everyone else (7ish - 8ish), get the kids ready for the day, give them their lessons, work, and keep my house (reasonably) clean.
Her reaction was, "Wow, you must be so organized!"
Well, I am, in my work life. My desk is clean and organized - it has to be for me to keep my clients happy.
My organization starts the night before. I have a rule that I don't go to bed until the house is cleaned up - not perfect, but tidied. I want the bathroom where the kids take their baths cleaned, laundry in the hampers, the kitchen cleaned from dinner, the dining room table cleared, and the living room picked up. It takes me about 20 minutes to get all this done.
Then I decide what clothes I want to wear the next day, and make sure they're in good repair.
Everything I need for the next day, I set on my desk or place by the front door. Do I know where my keys and purse are?
I spend a little time pampering myself, meditating, catching up on my leisure reading, and I'm ready for bed.
All of a sudden, the next morning is easy!
Thanks to FlyLady, who taught me the way.
Her reaction was, "Wow, you must be so organized!"
Well, I am, in my work life. My desk is clean and organized - it has to be for me to keep my clients happy.
My organization starts the night before. I have a rule that I don't go to bed until the house is cleaned up - not perfect, but tidied. I want the bathroom where the kids take their baths cleaned, laundry in the hampers, the kitchen cleaned from dinner, the dining room table cleared, and the living room picked up. It takes me about 20 minutes to get all this done.
Then I decide what clothes I want to wear the next day, and make sure they're in good repair.
Everything I need for the next day, I set on my desk or place by the front door. Do I know where my keys and purse are?
I spend a little time pampering myself, meditating, catching up on my leisure reading, and I'm ready for bed.
All of a sudden, the next morning is easy!
Thanks to FlyLady, who taught me the way.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Interesting troubles with schoolwork
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
TV Woes
I have come to utterly and completely HATE TV. I can't get my kids to read if the idiot box is on; I can't focus on my work, and it just makes too much noise.
So I moved my office into the living room, across from the TV, and I've LOCKED the remotes in my filing cabinet. Now the kids can't waste time mindlessly watching cartoons.
TV is fine for news and educational programs, but the kids tend to leave it on all the time. I'm trying to teach them to watch TV occasionally and not constantly. Let books be their first choice for entertainment!
So I moved my office into the living room, across from the TV, and I've LOCKED the remotes in my filing cabinet. Now the kids can't waste time mindlessly watching cartoons.
TV is fine for news and educational programs, but the kids tend to leave it on all the time. I'm trying to teach them to watch TV occasionally and not constantly. Let books be their first choice for entertainment!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Testing, one, two....
Since I homeschool, I'm often asked about standardized tests. No, in Utah they are not required, and I'm pretty sure my kids know how to fill in bubbles with a number 2 pencil. Does anyone remember the purpose of testing any more? Anyone? Anyone?
The purpose of testing used to be to find out what students had learned, and what they still needed to master. In a classroom setting, testing is important, because teachers need to prove that they have taught effectively.
In a homeschool, testing is virtually unnecessary. Parents who are taking on the responsibility for educating their children are well aware of the areas the kids are deficient in.
Eventually, of course, they will need to take the ACT and SAT. In the meantime, they are already better educated than their peers, who are in classrooms and only after the grade.
I "test" them sometimes by having them read to me, explain what the last history lesson was about, talk to other adults about what they've learned, and solve real-life math problems. Sometimes what they've learned isn't what I thought I taught, but that's OK - that happens all the time, too.
The purpose of testing used to be to find out what students had learned, and what they still needed to master. In a classroom setting, testing is important, because teachers need to prove that they have taught effectively.
In a homeschool, testing is virtually unnecessary. Parents who are taking on the responsibility for educating their children are well aware of the areas the kids are deficient in.
Eventually, of course, they will need to take the ACT and SAT. In the meantime, they are already better educated than their peers, who are in classrooms and only after the grade.
I "test" them sometimes by having them read to me, explain what the last history lesson was about, talk to other adults about what they've learned, and solve real-life math problems. Sometimes what they've learned isn't what I thought I taught, but that's OK - that happens all the time, too.
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