Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Why I Can't Give Up Homeschooling, Even on the Hard Days

I would like to pose a very simple question:

What is education?

This seems simple on the surface, but this is actually much, much deeper than meets the eye. 

This is the question that keeps me going on even the hardest days of homeschooling. Even on the days when I swear to myself that we are making a huge mistake and I'm enrolling them in school and putting them on that big yellow bus tomorrow. 

I have a Master's Degree in elementary education, have been around kids and public schools my entire life, have three kids of my own, and, yet, being tasked with answering this question these past two and half years has turned my entire world upside down. 

What makes it so difficult is trying to sift through what I have been told, whether directly or indirectly, my entire life about what education is from what I actually believe it is. 

Everyone has a "philosophy" of education whether you think you do or not. What you think a child should learn, how you think a child should learn it and when are some of the things that drive that philosophy. Who is responsible for facilitating that learning is another part. How you know when a child has learned something is yet another component. 

If you don't think you have a philosophy, it's most likely because you have just naturally adopted what the public school system tells us it should be. (And the hard truth is, that if your kid is in public school, you don't really have much of a voice in forming that philosophy.) Which is exactly what I did until the Lord stirred our hearts and we dove into the uncharted waters of homeschooling.  

But why does this question matter? 

Shouldn't we just do what the majority of the country does and send our kids to public school when they turn five? Does it really matter if we have a philosophy or not? I mean, is it really that big of a deal?

At first, I didn't think so. But now as we are entering our third year of this homeschooling thing, I've realized that, actually:

Yes! 

Yes, it is! 

Because whether we realize it or not, how we answer that question frames our entire outlook on life, on success, and in turn determines how we spend our children's time and our time as a family.  

So, just for fun, imagine this: 

All the boundaries and limits most school systems put on kids (and as a direct result, families) are magically taken away- things like the number of days kids have to be in school, the HOURS kids have to be in school, grade levels, requirements to "pass" each grade level, standardized tests, incentivized reading, math, or other subject-related programs, progress reports, dictated subjects and specific learning standards, report cards, classrooms composed of same-aged peers, reading levels, "gifted" programs, "special education" programs, extra credit, homework, spelling lists, all types of arbitrary measuring sticks that cause comparison, competition, and sometimes anxiety... take all of those things away, and what are you left with? 

Really, think about this. 

What are you left with? 

If it were completely up to you- your child's school years were just an immense blank slate stretched before you like an open field- no timelines, no pressure, no testing, no comparison ... what would you want your child to know? How would you fill your child's time?

And that's where we find ourselves right back at that essential question again:

What is education? 

It is the freedom we have as a homeschooling family to answer this question for ourselves that keeps me going on the hard days.

What do we want our children to know and be able to do? 

When is it important for them to know what we want them know?

What priorities do we have as a family? 

How can we structure our minutes, hours, days, and weeks to actually support and sustain those priorities? 

How do we want our children to feel about learning? 

I am not naive to realize that what we have come to think of as "education" these days is about much, much more than simply the acquisition of knowledge. It's a way for kids to make friends and have experiences, and yes, learn things, but it's become more about a specific culture related to the schools themselves, not necessarily about the actual education happening inside the buildings. Spirit days, school plays, cafeteria food, all the hallmark things we come to know through our experience in schools add to the connotation of "education." 

And I do miss all of those things. I have days where my emotions are all over the place and times of serious doubt. 

But what I've been shown, by God's unexpected blessing, is that there is another way for the kids to experience most all of those things. (Yes, even things like bullying and cliques- any group of children, no matter where they are isn't immune from these things) without the limits the traditional school system imposes and live a completely different kind of life. 

A life where on a rainy day we can stay in our pajamas, cuddle up on the couch, and read together. 

A life where when we are learning about fossils we can travel to a place and dig up actual fossils from the ground. 

A life where my child who is struggling to learn to read feels no pressure or condemnation from being "behind" because there really is no "behind" in the first place. 

A life that enables us to spend time with family and friends and still have time to take part in all the activities we want to be in and allows the boys time to be together and celebrate the small everyday successes in real-time. 

A life that takes advantage of the natural curiosity every child is born with, that natural thirst for information and answers without relying traditional methods. 

We get to structure our kids' school years in a way that just wouldn't be possible otherwise and we have the freedom to decide what a quality education for our children is. It's helped us step back and re-examine the choices we were making on default and really take the time to explore and think deeply about them. 

And if you'll allow me to be a little sinister for a minute, the reality that we never know when our last day will come is part of the equation, too. The Lord's coming surely must be near, y'all!! ðŸĪŠðŸ‘€ðŸĪĢ But we don't want to look back and regret time not better spent. 

Could homeschooling be a huge mistake? Eh, possibly. 

Will the kids miss out on some things? Of course! 

Will they one day look back and feel a little resentment that they didn't get to experience elementary or middle school (we have no idea how long we will keep this homeschooling thing going) like "normal" kids? Possibly. 

But as I'm sitting here typing this thinking about the absolute mess our world is, I think we will take our chances. ;) 

We spend our days exploring nature, being together as a family, and yes, with lots of friends, too, experiencing new places and things, reading lots and lots and lots of great books, filling our minds with truth, goodness, and beauty and as each day goes by we are finding our answer to that essential question a little more clearly and little more confidently. 

Our hope is that as we are living this life alongside the kids, making the most of every day we have together, that even though they might feel like they missed out on some things, they will look back on what what they got in return and think it was equally as good, if not better. 

I fully realize that the homeschool life is not for everyone. I am in no way trying to persuade anyone or insult anyone, but because I have been given the incredible gift to see life in a completely different way, I feel like it's my duty to tell you, that if you have ever even so much as thought about it, it's worth looking into. 

Even on the days when I feel like I just can't do it anymore, the thought of giving it all up is just inconceivable. We've been shown the other side and there's just no going back. We have to see where this journey takes us, following the Lord's lead as we go. 

So, what is education? How do you want to fill your child's days? 

The answer is completely up to you! 



Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Snails! A Mini-Study!

 Who knew that I would fall head over heels in love with SNAILS?! 

Well, it's happened, and I only have my kids and God to blame. I mean, when you really stop and look at them closely they are beautiful and fascinating. 

You don't think so? 

Then this little mini-study is for you and your kiddos! 

I dare you not to think snails are pretty awesome after learning about them and studying them up close. 

I dare you! 

But seriously... we have had so much fun learning about and studying snails over the last few months so I knew I wanted to put something together to share that love. 

In this free file I've included: 

-book suggestions
-activity suggestions
-a little idiom slide for "a snail's pace"
-several snail poems we love 

My hope is that you will come to love and appreciate snails as much as we do and maybe even collect a few to keep as pets. Yup, we are now the proud owners of FOUR snails we are keeping as pets. HA! 

Simply click on the picture below to grab your copy! (If the link gives you any trouble let me know and I'll send it to you directly)

If you have any snail-related books, activities, or whatever that you love, I would love to know! 








Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Patriotic Songs for Morning Time or Memory Work


It's June and around here that means we are thinking ahead to July 4th and all things America and patriotism. In my opinion, the time between Memorial Day and July 4th is the perfect time to learn some patriotic songs, read some great books, and prepare our minds for the importance of Independence Day. 

We are going to be learning and singing some patriotic songs in morning time and adding the lyrics to our memory work binders, so I just thought I would share! 

June is a great month to focus on patriotism because during the month we remember D-Day, celebrate Flag Day and the birthday of the Army, reflect on the importance of the Magna Carta, learn about bald eagles on National Bald Eagle Day, and celebrate Juneteenth. I'll try to come back and share some of the books or activities for those specific days, but for now, enjoy these patriotic songs! Just click the picture below and it should open the file but if it gives you any trouble let me know and I’ll send it to you directly.💙





Sunday, May 28, 2023

What's This Morning Time Thing???

                                           

Oh, morning time. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.  💜

I recently shared what a typical day in our homeschool looks like, and when I sat down to write this post, I had planned on sharing the details of what our morning time actually looks like, but I realized that first and foremost I just wanted to talk about this idea in general just in case it's a new idea for anyone. It really is that important to me and has been such a game changer for not just our homeschool, but for our family culture. 

When we first chose to homeschool, I knew nothing about this wonderful thing called "morning time." What I was noticing, however, was that meal times were important and I wanted to utilize them to their full potential. I knew I wanted to do something, but I just didn't know what. We had dabbled in different family devotionals together during breakfast, but I knew I wanted something more consistent and meaty. 

So when I did eventually discover and explore this whole "morning time" concept, everything came together and it has now become one of my favorite parts of the day.

If I was still a full-time classroom teacher, I would like to think that I would use morning time on the weekends and during the summer with my own kids. Even though kids may be getting the majority of their academic or even spiritual learning from outside the home at school or church, morning time is a chance to capture their hearts, fill their minds and souls with things that are true, good, and beautiful, and focus on things that your family prioritizes. 

I really feel like all families could utilize the morning time concept regardless of what their school choice is and I feel very passionately about sharing this idea with anyone who will listen!

Before I go any further, please know that I am by no means a morning time expert and our morning time can often turn into more of a hot mess than a beautiful Instagram-worthy sight. Despite being a novice and having oh-so-much to learn, I wanted to get this message our there anyway. 

So, what is it?

Moring time, very simply, is a time for everyone to gather and learn together. 

Yup, that's it. 

It's that simple. 

Morning time isn't just for homeschooling families or just for school days for us, but just a sweet time of gathering the whole family together (meaning the kids and me, although sometimes Jeff is included if he's home during the week or on the weekends) to build relationships and learn together. It's very much like the "morning meeting" or "calendar time" in a classroom if you are familiar with those. Some families actually call it "morning meeting" or "symposium" or "power hour." Regardless of the name, it serves the same purpose. 

You most likely are already doing something that resembles morning time or an activity that can be either incorporated into a morning time routine or would serve as an excellent starting point for one (like eating breakfast 😉).  
  
If you've ever wanted to do something with your kids- like read aloud, memorize scripture, etc. but you just can't figure out when during the day to do it, morning time is a great place to start. 

Just for some background...

There are two huge names in the homeschooling world who have largely contributed to spreading and making popular the concept of morning time. Cindy Rollins is known as the mother of morning time and now, even though all of her kids are grown, is still dedicated to the practice and encourages moms to create a morning time routine of their own.  

Pam Barnhill is most known for taking the idea of morning time and creating a "morning basket" to use during that time. This doesn't have to be a literal basket, but the idea of gathering resources together and having them on hand is very useful and definitely makes morning time run more smoothly. She shares lots-and I mean LOTS!- of practical information, resources, and even ready-to-use morning time plans (some for free) on her website.

If you're curious about this idea and want to learn more, I HIGHLY recommend looking into all the wonderful things these ladies have to offer. Pam wrote a fantastic post describing the concept of morning time and answering lots of the basic questions. Read that post HERE.


Why would you want to start a morning time, especially if you aren't a homeschooling family? 

Well, at the very minimum it brings the family together. Regardless of the ages of your kiddos, whether you have all really young kids or all teenagers, having everyone together in one place and participating in the same activities is a great way to build relationships and family culture. 

These days everyone is so busy. All. The. Time. We run from one thing to another, we spend a lot of time in the car, and even though the family may be all together physically in one place, like at a sports game or at church together, there is something so special about everyone being mentally together, either at the table or in the same room and focused on the same thing without any outside distractions. I feel like now more than ever it's important for families to carve out and make family time a priority. The structure morning time provides is really useful and helpful.

If you're a mom of kids who are home from school during the summer, morning time is an especially great way to build in some structure to your days and start the day off on the right foot. 

And one important note- "morning time" does not HAVE to be only in the morning. It could be any time of day that your family can gather together. It's just the term that has stuck. 

I don't have any great pictures of the kids and me actively engaged in morning time because no one else is here to witness it! But here's a picture I just happened to take after one random morning time so you can get a general idea of the kids of things we do. The picture at the top of the post was another one I took on a random day. 

Pam Barnhill published a beautiful coffee-table-style book that has fabulous pictures of families during their morning times, so I recommend looking into that to see the variety of styles.  Keep in mind that every family does things differently, and our morning time looks different day to day. 



I'll have to do a separate post about the resources I use during morning time because it varies so much. But you can use morning time to accomplish all kinds of goals that you may have for your family.  

Here are some ideas for things you could do during your morning time:

-pray together

-read aloud 
(I believe VERY strongly in the power of reading aloud to kids who can already read themselves, and how it's actually MORE important to keep reading to them after they can already read, but that's a whole other post! There are entire books and podcast series devoted to this topic as well! 
You can find a ton of booklists on a wide variety of topics from Read Aloud Revival)

-read and appreciate poetry (of all kinds)
(Great post about this topic HERE)

-memorize scripture  
(Pam Barnhill provides a great starting point HERE)

-read Bible stories 

-learn hymns, folk songs, or patriotic songs 
We are about to start working on some patriotic songs in June in preparation for July 4th but we have been learning the lyrics to "A Few of My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music this week just because it's something we want our kids to know and it's beautiful. 💙 
Other ideas HERE

-do some art appreciation or music study 
Maybe you really want your kids to learn some basic classical composers and pieces or know some famous artists and be able to recognize pieces of art. There are really simple and easy ways to do this.

-do some nature study 

-discuss important historical events, people, or read famous speeches
(That list Pam Barnhill put together includes some ideas for this)

-fit in some academics
If you have kids who are school-aged you can also use morning time as a way to review things they have already learned or learn new things together. Grammar, math concepts (not skills) like geometric shapes, coins, graphing, etc., and science topics are things that kids of all ages can learn about and practice together. Play math games, read fun picture books about academic subjects, etc)


There are so many possibilities of things to do during morning time, but the entire point is just being together, having shared learning experiences, and strengthening relationships.

It's hard to see the real value in morning time just by reading through those ideas, but if you can imagine the beauty of everyone laughing over a silly poem, reading a beautiful picture book together, learning some crazy facts about the smelliest flower in the world, and hearing your kids reciting a scripture verse you all worked to memorize, then you'll start to see just how valuable it can be.  

Can you see it? Can you imagine it? 

I can tell you that after doing morning time pretty consistently for almost a year now, I am seeing the fruit, albeit small. And it's so rewarding. My kids know the names of several poetic devices, can name some composers and artists and recognize some famous paintings, recite a few short scriptures and psalms, appreciate beautiful music, locate countries around the globe, and know that sloths only come down to eat once a week, ðŸĪĢ among lots of other random interesting facts about all kinds of things. 

I'm most looking forward to how our morning time will shift and morph as the years go on and the kids get a little older and capable of handling more. Lots of exciting things to come!

Ready to learn more?

Pam Barnhill posted an awesome podcast recently and she shares some great tips on how to get started. You can listen to that podcast HERE

It really is a wonderful thing. I promise.

Hopefully I'll be back soon to share some of the nitty-gritty about our morning time and what it actually looks like, but you know how that goes!! I just happened to look at Amazon today and I noticed that the Sing a Song of Seasons nature poem anthology we LOVE and use almost every day just happens to be on sale right now (5/28/23) on Amazon! I can't recommend this beautiful book enough. 

Until then, if you're intrigued by the idea of morning time or want to take what your family already does up a notch, I highly encourage you to look into the resources I linked all throughout this post and jump in! 

You won't regret it!!

Here are some quick link in case you don't want to scroll back up:










Saturday, April 22, 2023

A "Typical" Homeschool Day


In my last post I addressed some of the three most common homeschooling fears. The next thing that usually comes up in the conversation is, "So, what does it actually look like?" 

It's a simple question, really, but it can get sticky. There are all kinds of educational philosophies and opinions out there. Every family is different and that's the beauty of homeschooling. You can do it however you want! 

I'm a little hesitant to share about our days, but I always love when other moms share about theirs because it's so helpful. So maybe you can find something helpful and if nothing else it will give you a glimpse into a real homeschool if you don't know anyone who does it (just like we didn't know a soul when we first decided to homeschool!). 

Please remember, we are still new at this. Even though I spent my whole life in the public school world, homeschooling is completely different and every time I think we have found a groove something changes. 

Here's what a "typical" (although there really is no such thing around here!) day looks like right now:

7:00am-ish - Connor's Math Lesson
I sit at the breakfast table to eat my breakfast and drink my coffee while I do a math lesson with Connor. We try to get most of it finished before the younger two come barreling down and make chaos, but it rarely happens. So it usually turns into me trying to keep Connor focused, keep Colton out of my coffee and math blocks and other random toys get thrown all over the place. 



Why first thing in the morning? Connor is an early bird like me and wakes up ready to go. We do this first because he likes it, he's good at it, and he can check something off of his list first thing. 

Which reminds me, we use a simple checklist for the major components of our "school" day, which has been very helpful. 

I eat my breakfast first so I don't have to eat while they eat (you'll see why in the next section) and I can actually finish my coffee while it's still hot. 

7:30-ish or whenever Jeff leaves for work- Morning Time 
Jeff leaving for work is kind of the unofficial start of our day. We clean up the table from whatever giant mess was created during the math lesson and the boys do their breakfast chores (which is just them setting the table and getting their cereal stuff out). 

We light a candle and I go through our morning basket while they eat. I have their attention because they have mouths full of cereal and it's harder for them to interrupt. Which, they still do, don't get me wrong, but at least I have their attention! 




I can do a separate post about what all goes into our morning basket if anyone is interested because otherwise this post will be way too long! But to get a general idea, this is the time that I review a variety of things we have learned from all subject areas. We read poetry, I share about whatever national day it is, we read our devotional, review math and science terms, go over some of our memory work for our co-op... it's just a hodge-podge of whatever I feel like we need that day. 






This morning time lasts as long as I have their attention and food isn't being thrown on the floor by the toddler. Which, these days is becoming shorter and shorter. 

Cleanup and Free Time 
After our morning time, we clean the table and the boys have a little bit of free play time while I get the toddler cleaned up, do whatever housework I can do quickly, and get materials ready for our table time, which comes next. 

8:30ish Table Time 
Once I feel like we have all had an ample time to reset after morning time, we start table time. 

I put Colton in his playpen, one boy comes to the table with me, and the other boy goes upstairs to a room out of sight. 

When Connor is at the table with me, we do our phonics lessons and handwriting. This is super short, less than 20 minutes and usually only around ten if I'm being honest. We do things in short bursts around here!


I use a variety of curriculum and resources for reading, writing, and math, so I won't get into all of that in this post! 

One of the items on Connor's checklist is to read to a brother, so at some point during the day he has to do additional reading practice, it's just not at the table with me. 

When he's done, he goes upstairs and Cooper comes to the table for his "work." I really don't expect Cooper to be doing table time at this age, but because Connor does table time with me he wanted his own table time, too. We do some alphabet practice, letter sounds, puzzles, coloring, basically whatever I feel like having him do. He loves it, so it's a win-win. 

Colton (the toddler) plays pretty well in his playpen as long as he can't see anyone else, which is why whatever boy is not at the table with me has to go upstairs. Otherwise we press on with table time amidst his screams and the sound of toys flying out of his playpen. 

Did I mention that homeschooling with a toddler is difficult??? 

9:15/30ish Outside Time/ Walk 
Most mornings we go on a walk around the neighborhood or the boys have time to play outside. Sometimes I need to run errands, so if we have somewhere to go this is usually when we go (grocery store, haircuts, friend meetups). 

Couch Time (Time of day varies) 
At some point in the morning before lunch, we have "couch time." On days when we have activities outside of the house in the morning (our co-op days) this happens in the afternoons after independent time. 

During couch time, we come together on the couch and I will read usually 2-3 books of my choice aloud. This is the time when I fit in picture books that cover whatever academic subject we are learning about that week and we usually have a chapter book going so depending on time, attention, and moods, we will read a chapter or two of that. 

The other day was Lima Bean Appreciation Day (I know, silly, but it's fun!) so this was the time when I read the three books that related to that. 



On really good days the boys will each pick a book that they want me to read aloud and I'll read those, too. Some days we can inch close to an hour on the couch. It's my favorite time of the day! 

For the longest time this was when Colton would be taking his morning nap. Now that he's not napping in the morning anymore, we still attempt to get one or two books read and he plays with toys quietly (usually) in the room. Or crawls all over us. Or creates chaos. In which we have to abandon couch time and try again later! 

Our entire homeschool runs on books and I spend lots of time looking for books to help me introduce and teach all kinds of topics from science and math to art and geography. There are wonderful books out there for almost everything. You can never have too many books!!! 

Playtime and Lunch 
Once we finish couch time the boys have free play time until lunch. 

Lunch is pretty relaxed but we usually listen to or watch something while we all eat. If we are learning about a composer, we will listen to their works. If we are learning something in science we will sometimes watch a science video online, but most of the time we will listen to whatever audiobook we have going. Right now we are listening to the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary and LOVING it! 

More playtime/ Field trips/ Errands 
After lunch the kids play outside or if we have more errands to run we do those. I typically try to schedule any appointments for this time of day because it's nice to get out of the house for a bit. Most of our field trips, park days, and friend meet ups happen in the afternoon so we can get our morning routine in as many days as possible. 

Independent Time 
The kids have some amount of independent time most days if we are home in the afternoons. They go to different rooms and listen to audiobooks on their Yoto players (which we love!). 

Random Stuff 
The afternoons vary, so sometimes we do art stuff, crafty stuff, a themed read-aloud and snack time, play-doh, drawing, you get the idea. Our afternoons vary so much throughout the week, so I never really know what the afternoon will hold! 

A few weeks ago we were all about cacti and then we were on snails for a few days, so we had some nice little afternoons with those topics! 





And that's it! 

The kids are little (almost 7, 4, and almost 2 at the time of this writing) and we have allllll the time to do more formal academic things later. We will slowly add on more to the routine as they get older, but for now, this is what works for us. 

We listen to our Classical Conversations memory work, listen to lots of audiobooks in the car, I use "strewing" to spark conversations about various things, we read about and explore lots of national days as they come up, we go on lots of field trips, and we read lots and lots and lots and lots of books. And they are learning and retaining way more than I would have ever expected. 

We do school year-round right now because it's just so much easier to keep the routine when we are home. I've decided that the days that Jeff goes to work and we are home are essentially "school" days. We do so many field trips, visits with friends and family, and little trips here and there that we only follow this particular schedule 2-3 days a week. 

Some days we only do morning time, some days we do morning time and table time just spread out throughout the day. Some days we only do couch time, it just varies, which is another wonderful thing about homeschooling. We can ebb and flow as needed. 

And of course I'm not mentioning all the noise, messes, spills, sibling fights, muddy floors, attitudes, endless laundry, dishes, exasperated prayers, and all the millions of other little things that happen daily, but why think of all of that when I can make it almost seem so nice and smooth?!  Ha! 

I've become so much more relaxed and confident over these last two years. I know that what we are doing right now is enough and we are aiming for a slow, nature-filled, curiosity-driven homeschool for as long as possible. It's so exciting to wake up each day and anticipate what the day will bring. It's so much fun! 

Well, I hope you found that helpful! 

It will be interesting to see how long this little routine lasts!

Thanks for reading! Let me know if there is anything else you're curious about and I'll see what I can do! 




Monday, April 10, 2023

Can YOU Homeschool? Yes!




I've found myself having several unexpected conversations with people lately about homeschooling. It's that time of year when the school year is winding down and we start to think about next school year. There are lots of reasons why people may think about homeschooling, but regardless, I've found myself saying the same things during these conversations, so I thought I would just write a post about it in case you or someone you know may be thinking about it (or maybe just curious!)

The parents I have talked to are genuinely feeling the pull to keep their kids home, are very curious and deep down they really want to do it, but their fears are holding them back from actually pulling the trigger.

And before I dig in, let me say this: It was never our plan to homeschool

We bought our house specifically for the elementary school we are zoned to. Because I was a public school teacher we never even considered homeschooling. But low and behold, one day I felt the call from the Lord, and it threw me for a complete loop!

I was almost distraught for weeks while Jeff and I were discussing it. We literally knew NO ONE who homeschooled and knew absolutely nothing about it, other than things I had read about from Sally Clarkson (a woman I love dearly who has written lots of books about motherhood and who homeschooled her four children who are now all successful adults) and the stigmas we knew from the world at large. 

I felt like this just could not be the path we were supposed to take, but the voice in my head only became stronger. I was pregnant with our third baby at the time and he was due in July, not long before the kids would start school again. 

It was a huge decision that felt like the weight of the entire world when we were thinking about it, but when I finally made the phone call to officially pull them out for the following year, it was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I can still remember the feeling because it was so... shocking. I was expecting to be hyperventilating, but instead I just felt this overwhelming sense of peace. 

It's funny what happens when you obey God's still, small voice. 

Here we are almost two years later and while I'm no expert (not even close!) and our kids are still young and miles away from graduation, I can say with confidence that the homeschool life is a sweet life, and I am so glad God called our family to this path. Homeschooling has changed my life is such a profound way and I feel like part of my responsibility while I'm on this path is to do my best to empower other families who feel the call to homeschool. 

With all of that said, here are the top three fears I hear about most often from my conversations with other parents and my responses to each. Hopefully, this can be helpful for you or for someone else you know who may be thinking about making the jump. 


1. I'm not a trained teacher. I don't think I can teach my kids.  


I think this is probably the number one fear most people have when thinking about homeschooling and believe it or not, this was a fear I had despite having a Master's degree in education! 

So the very first thing I want to say right off the bat is that you are already your child's teacher.

If you are a parent, you are a teacher. You have most likely taught your kids to dress themselves or use the potty. If you haven't yet, you will. Teaching them the parts of an insect is no different. You may just need a resource to help you! ;)

Teaching your own child at home is as different from teaching a class of students in a school setting as apples are different from oranges. Teachers in schools have standards to teach that they didn't choose on a timeline they didn't set and have to meet requirements they often have no input in making all while managing a classroom full of all kinds of kiddos who have a wide range of needs that a single teacher just can't possibly meet as hard as they may try (and hats off to all the amazing men and women who do just that every single day!)

The higher-ups are pushing educational content down to younger and younger students and it just doesn't have to be that way. Don't even get me on my soap box! 

As a homeschool parent, you get to choose everything. What they learn, how they learn it, when they learn it, and what you use to teach it. As long as they get the basics (reading, writing, math- and I would argue that's all the "formal" education they need for a good, long while), the world is wide! If you live in Texas, you live in one of the best state for homeschooling. No standardized testing!

The glorious news is that there is an entire world of curriculum available out there that can give you as little or as much support as you want or need. And I mean WORLD! 

There are scripted curriculums that literally tell you exactly what to say and do. 
There are online programs that will essentially teach your child with you there to guide and support. 
There are books, podcasts, co-ops, one day academies, private tutors, university models... the list goes on and on.

There are actually SO many resources available to homeschoolers that it can be quite overwhelming. 
If you want to see what I mean, check out this site that provides an extensive list of products available for each major subject area and reviews for each of them. 

There is even an entire store in the Houston area called The Homeschool Store stocked with a nauseating... I mean, surprising! array of materials and extremely helpful staff who can help you sift through it all. (Although for me this store is like a black hole, so visit with caution!)

But also know that children are wired for learning. They are born curious. They are learning all the time and when you give them time and space to ponder and explore, you will be shocked by what they can discover. I have so much fun every single day just watching and learning right alongside my kids. I'm actually rediscovering things I previously hated- like physics!- because I can see the beauty and wonder in it through the eyes of my children. 

It really is a beautiful thing. 

So, never fear. You will be able to find exactly what you need to teach your child. 
(And there is always YouTube!)

I feel like this needs to be shouted from the rooftops because it is just so important: 
You DO NOT need to be a trained teacher to educate your child! Trust me! 

If you love your child, you can homeschool. Bottom line. 


2. I don't think I can be around my kid(s) all day. 


Yes, I feel ya. 

This was a big deal for me when we first started. 

This is the one part of homeschooling that I feel like I have had the most to learn and have had to do the most growing, so I've become really passionate about it. Bear with me... this is lengthy.

Before homeschooling we were in a routine of not being together all day and I reallyyyyyy enjoyed my coffee shop dates and solo trips to the grocery store and all the wonderful things one can do without children tagging along!

But I quickly realized that the kids going to school (it was just a four day a week preschool for our oldest, a two day a week program for our middle and the baby wasn't born yet) was actually the root of a lot of the stress and strain in our relationships. But being home all day together has actually changed our relationship for the better. We are all closer and I feel like I have a much more genuine relationship with my kids than ever before. 

Taking away all the external distractions, the stress of having to get everyone dressed and out the door every single day, and having time to relax and really enjoy each other has made a huge difference. I feel like we are living a much more authentic and rich life than the hustle and bustle we had previously. 

However...

It was tough there for the first several months, I'm not going to lie. 

My oldest and I have very similar personalities and he didn't just sit down and do what I told him to like I expected him to. Sitting at a table face to face with my own kid was vastly different than standing in front of a classroom of kiddos. Little did I know that God was using my relationship with him to teach me and grow me and that was a very rude awakening. 

I mean, I'm a teacher by profession! That's what I do! And there I was struggling with ONE student-my own child! It almost felt like a personal affront. 

Now I know that was the point. 

It took a lot, and I mean a LOT, of tears, frustration, hurtful words, apologies, PRAYER, and trial and error to figure out a dynamic that worked for us. And while it still isn't perfect, I'm learning more about how to reach for his heart, not just his immediate obedience.

I feel like choosing to homeschool has sent him the message (in so many words), "I choose you. I choose to be with you. You are most important to me right now even though this is hard and even though it will take some time to figure things out. I'm not giving up on you." Working through the trials and frustrating moments has bonded our hearts together in a special kind of way. 

As the younger two get older and they start more formal school work, I'm actually a little excited to see what their personalities and quirks will be. I know I have so much more to learn. Yes, I will make mistakes and it won't be perfect, but that's actually one of the most beautiful parts of homeschooling in my opinion. This is real life. These are my people. I can't escape them after one school year. We are in this for the long haul.

There have been and will continue to be lots of times when I feel overwhelmed, when I question our decision, or when I feel like I am failing them. There have been and will continue to be arguments, tears, anger, and harsh words said. But those moments also give birth to the beautiful moments of apology, repentance, and forgiveness. 

So yes, it may be hard, and yes, some days I long for those child-free days of independence, but I promise you if you stick it out, lean on the Lord and pray for guidance and wisdom, it will be worth it. 

And you can still have time out with friends and have a life- but that's a post for another day!


3. Won't the kids be social outcasts? 

Ah, yes. The classic socialization question. This was at the top of my list of fears, too. 

But trust me when I say, this is really NOT something to worry about. 

As a former public school teacher, I can say with confidence that there are kids sitting in public school classrooms all over the country who are social outcasts. Just because a child is sitting in a classroom with same-aged peers all day long does not immediately ensure they will know how, or choose to appropriately interact with those peers. It's quite possible for a student to go an entire day in a public school without saying much of anything. Maybe you were that kid!

I've come to learn and realize that most kids are actually MORE capable of interacting with others when homeschooled because they spend more time around adults who are (hopefully) more of a model of appropriate interaction than those same-aged peers they would have in a traditional classroom.

When the kids have squabbles, whether with each other or with friends, I can be there to coach and intercede as needed while infusing our own biblical principles. Of course there is a fine line between letting kids work things out for themselves and helicoptering, but having the ability to help solve problems when necessary is a nice benefit.

Homeschooled kids also have a chance to get out into the world, interact with real people in real places (think the library, grocery store, museums, parks, etc.) rather than being in that same classroom day in and day out.

You won't be home all day every day. Or maybe you will be if that's your style, but we most definitely are not! I aim to have at least one or two days each week where we are home all day, but we have so many options of things to do that sometimes I have to pull back to keep those one or two days sacred.

We live in the Houston/Katy area and there are numerous co-ops, playgroups, social groups, sports activities, etc. It just takes reaching out and  participating. 

If you have multiple kids the benefits compound because they will have LOTS of opportunities throughout the day to practice those problem-solving and social skills. ;) And so will you as the parent! 

So, as long as you aren't keeping your kid locked in the basement, they will be fine. 

Really! 


I know there are a host of other fears, concerns, and hesitations, but these three seem to be the main focus of most of the parents I talk to. Hopefully that was helpful!



Now that I've addressed those three main things I want to be sure to also say this: I don't necessarily think homeschooling is for everyone. 

I am not saying that every family should homeschool. In fact, I would say that if you aren't feeling the call in any way, shape, or form, then it probably isn't the path for your family. God uses all of us and our unique personalities for His purposes. Working outside of the home and/or having your kids in a school setting of some kind may be the absolute best for everyone in your family. For me, this is the path He's called me to, and I'm just listening and obeying. 

There could come a time when we feel the Lord calling us to make changes. We could eventually put one or more child in public or private school. Who knows! That's the beauty. We aren't stuck with one option forever. We have choices. And so do you! ;)

BUT if you feel the call, even just a little bit, listen. It may be just a general sense of uneasiness when you think about school or it may be a small little whisper that's inspiring you to learn more about homeschooling. Whatever that voice may sound like, stop and listen. 

Just explore. 

Just think about it. 

You don't have to make any decisions immediately. 



Now that we have been at this homeschooling thing a while, I have learned so, so much. I feel more inspired and grateful every single day, especially being able to watch the kids learn and grow both as individuals and in their sibling relationships. As unexpected as this whole journey was, I can't imagine life any other way.

It's a wonderful world over here on the other side!! 

I have so much more I would love to share about what I've learned these last couple of years. If this was helpful or you would like to know more about something in particular, let me know! I'm thinking I'll be writing some other posts soon addressing things like: 

-Why homeschool? 
-What a typical day or week looks like for us
-What are the biggest benefits?
-How homeschooling has changed our family for the better
-Educational models and methods, etc. 

But you know how it is with kiddos! Who knows when I'll have the time and energy to write another post. Hopefully I'll see you back here soon! 



Friday, January 6, 2023

World Braille Day



Happy Friday! 

I wanted to pop in and share about what we did for World Braille Day this week!

(I'm also just super excited to have the dust off of this ol' blog and I'll take any excuse to post something! Obviously I haven't used this platform since becoming a homeschool mom! The last posts were from 2017, I think. I have some updating to do!)





World Braille Day is celebrated every year on January 4 to celebrate the birthday of the man who invented Braille as we know it, Louis Braille. 

We read the picture book Six Dots by Jen Bryant and it was excellent! This fictional representation of young Louis' life was a great way to connect with him emotionally, share in his struggle, and ultimately celebrate with him as he accomplished his goal of creating an easy system for blind people to read. I loved this book and had to purchase it for our home library. I can't wait to revisit it in the years to come. There is even a pronunciation guide in the front for the several French phrases the author includes 





Louis is a wonderful example of determination and did not want to be pitied after an accident in his father's shop caused him to go blind by the age of five.  He left his comfortable and loving home to spend years in a sterile school for the blind in Paris just to have the opportunity to read. He wasn't happy with the slim options available to him at the time so he set out to create his own. He spent many years trying to perfect his system and finally accomplished his goal at the age of just 15!

I found some free Braille printables on TpT and we used them to write our names in Braille by gluing jewels on to the blank template. 




I just can't tell you how much I love celebrating these national and world days. They bring such a deeper level of interest and wonder to our regular routine and curriculum and I get so excited to learn new things right alongside the boys! This past week we also celebrated National Bird Day, National Bean Day, and National Drinking Straw Day!

January is full of fun ones! It will be an exciting month!






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