May. 5, 2009 - ~I love homeschooling
I remember when I was in school. Somewhere around 7th grade I began to lose interest. The year before I had made principals honor roll and the very next year I was failing. Nothing made sense to me. I was required to memorize mathematical concepts and diagram sentences. Why? No one had the answer- or at least- they weren't giving the answers. None would (or could) take the time to reason with me. After all..... there were 30 other children in the same class and 'we must stay on schedule'.
*Let's have a slip N slide celebration
I have seen the differences, first hand, in our homeschooling verses the traditional type schooling. I have talked to many parents and teachers as well. I have known quite a few, and I do mean quite a few, teachers who have permanently or temporarily retired from their teaching to stay home and teach their children. Find them.....pick their brain....it's enlightening!
Just the other day, right before our evaluator came for our yearly evaluations, our daughter decides she would like to learn about gem stones. For a brief moment I almost said 'No'. We needed to get our books in order and brush up on some math. But I quickly realized this IS what homeschooling is all about!
Her school literally takes her about an hour a day. If she is motivated she can complete all her work in an hour. But on this day she spent an hour and a half (at least!) researching gem stones in the encyclopedias and on the internet and I HAD TO ASK HER TO STOP so that we could move on to other things. Then the next day she had to remind ME that all gem stones are minerals (among other acquired knowledge she had obtained).
The information she learned in that hour and a half stuck! She's got it. She's learned it! Why? Because she's a homeschooler! She's curious about life and things. She has questions and wants answers. She's searching things out for herself!
Why do I like homeschooling? I love the entire process..... I am the one who has potty trained these children. I have taught them how to tie their shoes (felcro strapped them in). I wipe their noses and bandage their boo-boos. I am the one who says: "Get tough now.... you can do it!", "No pitty party", "Let's bring it to the Lord, let's pray". From my heart to theirs I have praised them for their accomplishments and encouraged them when they've missed the mark. I am the biggest cheer leader they have and I don't want that to change! From my heart to theirs......just the way the Good Lord meant it to be!
*Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Comments
May. 5, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by floridasunsets
Amen!!!
May. 5, 2009 - Me too!!!!
Posted by jenn4him
Yes, a thousand times, yes!!! Homeschooling is my passion. It's a total package, a lifestyle of learning. We live in an area where the kids are pushed very hard from a young age to succeed. I did not want that for my kids. I want them to learn at their own pace and love learning. This takes quite a bit of trust on my part because I sometimes wonder how my kids would stack up to the hyper-educated,over-scheduled kids around us. (But don't worry, I don't spend much time thinking about it.) I am blessed to be their mom, teacher and cheer-leader.
Jenn
PS. We go camping 3 hours to our north at the Indiana Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan. It's awesome!!!
May. 5, 2009 - Yes!
Posted by CreativeLearning
Me too! Great post :)
May. 5, 2009 - Your Blog Really Spoke to Me...
Posted by Anonymous
Hi, I am the mommy to a 6 1/2 year-old girl (currently in Kindergarten at the public school), a 3 1/2 year-old boy, a 2 year-old, and we are expecting in early October. This "homeschooling thing" has been on my heart for about 2 years now, but I chickened out and sent our daughter to Kindergarten. I would LOVE to hear how you decided to homeschool and where to begin!? Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
Nicki Bourgeois
Zimmerman, MN
nenesblessings.blogspot.com
nickiordave@hotmail.com
May. 5, 2009 - Hello Nicki
Posted by Eunice
We began our homeschooling journey a L-O-N-G time ago Nicki. Have been homeschooling now for about 14 years and our eldest will be graduating in just a few weeks.
I do not think there was 'one' thing that brought us to home school. If I'm remembering correctly, there were several reasons and it wasn't until after we began homeschooling that we realized how many were doing this strange 'new' thing.
The first year we began, our son was about to begin Kindergarten. We bought Abeka and started out strong (strong and expensive,btw). I emulated everything about school and the school 'system'. Bought a marker board and even purchased a few cute little desks second hand to use in our 'school room'. With each year, the 'look' of our schooling changed and we began settling in to what was right and good for us.
But if I could, I'd like to take you on a little journey. I'd like you to know that I am in favor of homeschooling and think it is the absolute best for the majority of children and their families. I'd also like you to know that 'there is therefore now no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus'. Having said all that.....let's go!
Like I said our homeschooling began with one child and a desire to 'do' school much like the schools I was raised in. A couple years passed and we had our second child. That, honestly, sent our schooling in to a bit of a tizzy. I began to realize that the way I learned school would not work for our situation. For some it does, but for us it didn't.
Then #3 came and the Lord saw fit to move our family away from our family, friends, and co-op group. We moved out to 'the country' where we knew no one; once fully involved - now hardly involved. But guess what.....it was a new road to travel and it worked great for our new phase.
That's one of the joys of homeschooling. It doesn't have to look a certain way and it can evolve as your needs and the needs of your family evolves.
This past December our family released our first movie. It's a story of a family with 14 children. If it were not for homeschooling we would NOT have done the film. It was a dream of our sons to become a cinematographer (a dream we did not initially want for him) and the entire family was able to 'school' in making the movie.
The Bible says to train them up in the way they should go. It also says 'according to their bent'. In making a long story short, we were able to do what needed to be done because it (his career) became a part of our homeschooling.
This is our plan for each of our children. It's not easy. There is no time out for Momma and Mommas character gets to grow quite a bit on this particular journey. BUT. BUT.... IF Momma and Daddy perseveres in the young years they will be able to reap the wonderful benefits of the older years!
We have an 18 year old son whom we adore. It's not perfect by a long shot. We're still a bunch of human beings learning life together. But what a joy he is! We have a daughter that will soon be thirteen. A thirteen year old joy that I do not do battle against. The years of sowing are few. The years of reaping are many.
I wish I had time to write more Nicki. I hope this email comes across as encouraging. It's so hard with email sometimes.
Blessings!
eunice:O)
