Sep. 13, 2009 - Sporadic Homeschooling
Our homeschooling happens in spurts. Sometimes I'll get great ideas at night, and I'll make all kinds of plans for the next day. Then I gather the children together and we have a marathon session of notebooking, reading or whatever big idea I had the night before. In the past, the Holy Spirit has inspired me with an idea for a play or something similar to go along with a topic we've been studying. Sometimes the idea is for the big kids. At other times, I get ideas for things to do with the younger kids. Sometimes I think of ways to teach the younger ones lessons that tie in with what I'm teaching the older ones, but I seldom think of neat, exciting things for each age group to do in the same day.
We plod along some weeks. Then suddenly I am struck by inspiration (sometimes from reading someone else's blog) and we do some really neat educational things.
(One of my recent big ideas. A lemonade stand the second week that we lived in this neighborhood. More successful than I would have dreamed. We met almost every kid on this street. All public schooled. Our mission field has been defined.)
Is it okay to be sporadic in our homeschooling? I think so. We have had to be for the better part of the last 5 years because of changes and trying circumstances (including losing our house and traveling across the country with no place to call home). My children learned a lot of very important life lessons through all that we went through.
They learned that God is real and that He is our Provider. He was so faithful to us throughout that whole time. We were never hungry. We always had a roof over our heads. He provided for us miraculously. He connected us to His people everywhere we went even though we didn't know a soul in the places that we visited. And our basic needs were always met.
And they learned some skills that they wouldn't have learned nearly so well in our safe, secure little home. Shawn was the navigator during our trip from Ohio to Arizona and back to Kansas City. Before we took that trip, he hadn't paid much attention to maps or geography. By the time we had crossed the country and headed back to the middle, he knew where a lot of the states were and some information about them and how to read road maps. We all learned quite a bit of geography from that trip!
Our life is way more settled now than it was during that time. But life is still pretty unpredictable. My mind is kind of unpredictable, truth be told. I was blaming it on Mommy-brain, but now I think it's just too many changes too close together. I know that God covers me and teaches my kids what He really wants them to know. I pray that all the time. Sometimes He uses me to read certain books to them or discuss certain topics with them. At other times He finds other ways to teach them what He wants them to learn. They know how to research, and they each pray on their own about what the Lord wants them to learn.
So, honestly, it is not all on my shoulders. I am responsible to do my best with what I've been given. But some days, I am just not enough. But God always is.
(Another big idea. Let's go fishing for Patrick's birthday! What did they learn? Garrett learned that Anna's a nice sister. She was holding his pole when he caught the fish, but she handed it back to him so that he got the credit for catching it. They learned about bass and blue gill and a little about catfish. They learned about safety near the water. I don't know what all they learned, but I'm sure it was good!
)
(Patrick caught a nice big fish for his birthday. He actually caught about 5 fish. His love for fishing has been restored! Patrick studied all about fishing a couple of years ago. He knows what he's doing. Shawn followed him around because he wanted to catch some, too. And he did!)
Comments
Sep. 13, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND PRAY YOU CONTINUE. SOME OF MY BEST IDEAS ARE AT NIGHT..UNLIKE YOU I USUALLY DONT FOLLOW THROUGH RIGHT AWAY...SHAME ON ME. I THINK SPORADIC IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE LEARNING MORE EXCITING.LEENA
Sep. 13, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by penneyfromheaven
Thanks, Leena. Some may not understand this, but it's the only way I can do it without driving myself and my kids crazy. We are pretty relaxed and laid-back here, and it seems to be working well for all of us.
Sep. 13, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by bearsmom
Sounds like you are all doing really well. Good job, Mom!
Oct. 14, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Judy
I like the way you think Penney!
What a lovely blog!
I look forward to many more visits here!
