• May. 6, 2006
Write about what you know?

Have you ever heard someone ask what they should write about and the answer "Write about what you know!" is given. I'm sitting here thinking "I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old! I "know" nothing about homeschooling! I can't make up my mind when it comes to curriculum! I haven't started teaching DS how to read. I've made out several different schedules and something seems to derail my plans every time! How can *I* write anything about homeschooling?"

So I sat here and thought and thought and thought. And the more I thought the more tense I got. About the idea of blogging. About the idea of a new venture. About my abilites to homeschool my own children. Sometimes it *all* seems so overwhelming, you know?

Then I remember my husband sitting on the bed with our 2 year old daughter today. DH said "Baby, what sound does a cow make?" DD screwed up her face and gave a prolonged "Moooooooo!" "What sound does a penguin make?" "Ork, ork, ork!" (Arms, flapping wildly in penguin fashion)! She proceeded to correctly name every single animal and their sounds. Have I ever "sat down" with this child and homeschooled her? No way! She has learned from playing, reading, singing and living and loving life.

So maybe I can relax a little and learn something from a 2 year old tonight. We learn every day, all the time. I know how to love. I know how to live. And I certainly know how to laugh! If I keep the joy and love of learning at the center of my homeschooling we'll all do just fine. Even if I don't have a teaching degree!!

And maybe we'll throw a little phonics on the table just to make sure it all balances out..

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Comments

• May. 6, 2006
Untitled Comment

Posted by CommunicationFUNdamentals

YOu are doing great! That's exactly what homeschooling is especially at your children's ages. In fact, fun is what it's all about for us too and I have a 6 y/o and a 16 year old.

I have been homeschooling for 6 years and I am a little nervous about high school and college prep but I know the Lord will lead me.

I don't have a teaching degree either but I have a Master's in My Kids! lol

You do too.

JoJo

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• May. 6, 2006
Animal sounds

Posted by Pondhaven

You've discovered something HUGE, yet very simple and fundamental. Children learn effortlessly, they just don't always learn effortlessly what we decide to teach them. Your daughter loves the animal sounds game. She's probably not up for algebra or literary analysis yet. It is easy as homeschoolers to get caught up in questions like:
Am I doing it right?
Am I doing enough?
Shouldn't they be learning [insert any of one or two dozen possible subject areas]?
What will my mother-in-law think?
What will my neighbors think?
What do I even think?

Hang on to the joy of small moments. Play with your children. Brand your heart with their smiles. You're in an ideal situation. By deciding early to homeschool, you just move from one thing to the next. You don't have to worry about, "Oh my, whatever should I do for math with a fourth grader?" When you're kids are fourth graders, you'll just do whatever comes next, adding to the learning foundations you began when you counted your daughter's toes with kisses.

Now back to animal sounds. When I was a teenager, our pastor had young children. I remember one Sunday morning when he brought his small daughter to the platform to show her new skills.
"What sound does a dog make?"
"Woof, woof."
"What sound does a cat make?"
"Meow."
"What sound does a cow make?"
"Mooo!!!"
"What sound does a skunk make?"
"P! U!"

Blessings in your journey,
Sharron

P.S. If you get a chance, check out Pondhaven. Thanks!

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