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I’ve never claimed to have this homeschooling thing all together, and I’m telling you now that I am still learning. I’m sharing some things with you in this post that I think are monumental in education at home. Some of these things I’ve done in the past with unnecessary feelings of guilt or failure. However, now I realize that all the times I swapped curriculum or allowed things that some (in the education system in America) might not characterize as “school work”, I’ve been doing what is right and best for my children based on their needs. I was following my Mommy Instincts and making decisions that went against what seemed like the “norm” at the time. I’m telling you all of this in hopes that you will see education in a different light and know that every child is different, and it is okay RIGHT to tailor studies to fit their needs.
#1. If they are not learning from a resource, switch it. Change it now! It doesn’t matter that you spent money on it or that it’s April and your school year ends in May. Just do it. I’ve done this almost EVERY school year and although I have felt bad about doing it, it ALWAYS helps! ALWAYS! And after realizing this fact, I don’t feel bad about doing it anymore!
#2. It’s more than okay to use movies, the internet, Pinterest, Blogger, Minecraft, Legos, etc. to learn, explore, and create. Technology is an amazing resource! It should be utilized without feelings of guilt on Mom’s part. Books are great and needed, but there are endless possibilities within the realm of technology!
#3. Tread out some unbeaten paths! Get off the subject and explore! Some of our best studies have been from unit type things that I kind of just threw together using the internet, Goodwill books, and lots of discussion because something came up that the kids wanted to know more about.
#4. Give them plenty of time to really “get into” what they are doing. Strict schedules and setting time limits can cause unnecessary stress and cut short an important moment of connection with a subject. If your child is drawing a MASTERPIECE, but their 30 minutes of “art time” is up… DO NOT make them stop! ( I have no idea why this has been an issue with me except that I’m a little bit OCD and schedules become my slave masters!!)
#5. This is the most important one, in my opinion…..LISTEN TO YOUR CHILD! Know their interests. Let them talk. Hear their opinions, problems, and frustrations with what they are learning. Listen with the knowledge that you have the power to help them, and then give that help. Listen to them when they are excited about something new that they have learned and ENCOURAGE THAT EXCITEMENT!
Ya know….we’ve really tried it all! Traditional, Classical, Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies, and everything in between. I’ve read multitudes of blogs and books and websites about this method and that method and what’s right and what’s wrong, but it all really boils down to this…..Teach the CHILD not the METHOD or CURRICULUM! Teach your child…..
