Posted in Blogger Friend School
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Assignment 100: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children. Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:19 KJV |
I mostly attended public schools as a child. I don't remember many details about the early years. My sister and I started K the same year although I am a year older than her. They moved me up to first grade about mid year. I remember a few of the projects we did in elementary school - growing beans in a baggie, playing kick ball for pe, things like that. I think I started going to the fourth grade class for math at some point in my third grade year.
Then we went to a private school for a year. I went from 20 or 30 kids in my class to 10 or 15. My mom was my teacher for part of the year. It was fun and interesting to do something different, but it didn't last because we moved over the summer.
So from fifth grade on I was back in public school. I really enjoyed school from there on out. I was a member of the concert band, the marching band, the German club, Key Club, Honor Society, Girl Scouts, etc. I was by no means popular, but neither was I too much of a nerd. I had a few good friends and many, many acquaintances.
The main problem with my public school education is that I don't remember anything that they taught me (with the possible exception of German, but I studied that in college as well). I never felt like I was in danger while at school. There were days when I really struggled to get through the load of homework but I didn't know there was any other way and I mostly enjoyed myself.
I don't know when I first heard of homeschooling. I know my husband and I began discussing it shortly after our first son was born and we both liked the idea. We attended a CHEA conference when I was pregnant with our second and got hooked on the idea. Neither of our boys has ever been to public school. We joined our local homeschool support group before our oldest was even old enough for "preschool".
Since then there have been good days and bad days. I'm not the homeschool mom I want to be yet. We're now doing 2nd and 4th grade and I'm still finding my way. Right now my youngest is more interested in studying with my mother than with me and that has been frustrating (mostly because she works and isn't home until 4:30 or 5 in the afternoon).
Our first few years on this journey have been a struggle to stick to any kind of schedule, to keep the house in order and to find the right balance of at home time and away time. We don't do that many outside activities but we always seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere.
I want my boys to enjoy school like I did, but I want them to actually learn something of value that will benefit them in their adult lives. I realize most of their curriculum at this age involves learning the basics but I want them to love learning the basics so they will want to learn more. I need to work out a schedule that works for all of us so we have balance and peace. I want them to be surrounded by a loving environment that is safe and fun. I want them to learn how to pray and to rely on God, whether I'm there or not.
So I feel both excited and scared as we try to find the rhythm of our new school year. We have a lot to do and discover about our academic subjects as well as each other. I'm not as ready as I hoped to be, in fact I feel completely behind already, but we're in this for the long haul, so here we go!
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.
and great shall be the peace of thy children.
Isaiah 54:13 KJV
Posted by MrsTamara
