Two Kid Schoolhouse
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Nov. 19, 2006
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Thankfulness and homeschooling
It's Thanksgiving week here in the USA and many of us are thinking of all the things for which we are thankful. I think, or maybe I just hope, that most Americans spend some time contemplating the great gifts we have been given, even if it's just in between thinking about snowpack and skiing, football, and the game plan for the next day's shopping.
I have a lot to be thankful for. But since this is for the Carnival of Homeschooling's Thanksgiving edition, I will focus on homeschooling. (You should do one too. You have till Monday at 6pm PST to write and submit it. If it's too late by the time you read this, write one anyway! Leave a comment so I can come read it!)
First I am thankful for a husband who not only supports our homeschooling efforts, but actually was the one who suggested it in the first place. I was absolutely appalled at first! It took me a long time to wrap my brain around the notion that I could educate my children. I am so thankful that he didn't just go for the default of public school, and that he led me away from the path of least resistance.
Of course I am thankful that our country's laws allow this. We don't often think about this very basic freedom - the right to take control of our kids' education - but it is not one to be taken lightly.
And there are the obvious things I can be thankful for - my kids don't have to deal with bullies, negative peer pressure, and the other not-so-great things about school. I don't have to "unteach" some things when they come home from school. They are not away from me for the better part of each day. And I don't have to pack lunch!
I'm thankful for all the curriculum options available to us, even though sometimes it can be overwhelming. And when I say "curriculum" I don't just mean "Sonlight," "Abeka" and "BJU" but all the great books and other materials that make homeschooling less like "school" and more like "education."
I'm thankful for our public library. We can go to the library to feed the aviation-loving-boy's hunger to learn about all things that fly. We can do the same for the crafty girl who just has to have glue sticks, paper, and scissors close at hand, along with craft books for ideas.
I am thankful my husband does not demand a perfectly uncluttered home.
I'm thankful that we can spend as much time as we need discussing the Bible passage we just read, or the Catechism question we're working on, the history book we're reading. We can take a break from reading about Da Vinci's inventions to study some of his art. Or we can skip history for a day (or a week...) and focus on a science project. (OK, we've never done that, but we could.) Each child can learn skills at his or her individual pace, and we can tailor what we're doing to fit that skill development. Written math drills too hard and stressful? We can do things orally till the facts are solid and writing is easier. We can read a book about the Oregon trail and then go to a museum to learn more. Or we can take a virtual voyage on the Mayflower.
Oh, I'm very thankful that I can introduce difficult or controversial topics when I think my kids are ready for them, rather than when some school official decides it is time. Conversely, I am thankful that we can move ahead on some topic of interest, rather than hold them back because it's not on the scope and sequence for their grade level. Not having to fit a child into a grade level box is something to be very thankful for.
We can take Thanksgiving week off from "school" and read books about Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, learn how to make a pumpkin pie and set the table properly, and practice hospitality. In other words, we can keep learning whatever we are doing, just as adults do all the time. Real world learning!
Of course most of all I'm thankful for my children 'cause if they weren't around, I wouldn't be doing this! Sure, we have our bad days, or bad moments within good days, but all in all... I wouldn't trade this life for anything.
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Musings of a slacker homeschool Mom
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• Nov. 19, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Sandy