I realized yesterday, that I have yet to update about our homeschooling, really since we started. Bad mom. We are moving right along, although there really is no method to our madness. Since we did not go with a formal curriculum this year and legally the girls do not have to be registered yet as homeschoolers, I have been somewhat relaxed this year. They've grasped addition, subtraction, time telling {hour & half past} and up to this point, have read 80 words - not sight memorized, but can actually read them. {I'm not doing sight words} We don't have grueling hours of learning time or test. We have a lot of play time, games, fun learning & art times and reading lessons- and while this has been a unique adventure, I'm not sure if it is something we'll do forever. It's something I go back & forth on a lot. Sophie would do great in school. She would be a star student- and although she is smart, she requires a lot of one on one time which I can give her through homeschooling. Ella, on the other hand {I think}, would have discipline problems at school, I'm afraid. Ella is incredibly bright {and I'm not just saying this because I'm her mom}- the child is six and taught herself multiplication, but she can't sit still in chair. Or eat without getting food on her face. She also doesn't listen very well. But I think she would be better challenged in a school setting. These are thoughts that go through my head everyday. Then there is the question of Typed out . . . our choice is pretty clear.
I'm not typing these thoughts to cause debate or controversy - I'm merely sharing my thoughts on our journey through this stage of life. I hope that there are other homeschooling families or people who are considering homeschool that read this and are encouraged or prodded. I know {and read} of families that are judged & ridiculed for choosing homeschool. We have been very lucky not to have any of that happen to us . . . yet. I'm sure we won't escape it that easily. Homeschooling, for us, is a choice. A sacrifice. Something that we are willing to make happen . . . right now. It is full of ups & a lot of downs . . . of course, on my bad days, Vodie always puts things in perspective for me. If I could offer any advice {especially for people homeschooling younger children}, it would be this: Relax. That is the whole point in homeschooling - you have the control. It's okay that you don't spend hours a day doing work. It's okay to have hours of play time on some days. They're kids. Set small goals & work toward those. If it's a beautiful warm day outside . . . go outside. Explore. Use unusual circumstances as teachable moments. For me, it's so much more than academics . . . I'm teaching, molding & shaping them - hopefully preparing them to be the women & men that God desires them to be. These are my homeschool ramblings for the day. It felt good to unload them - mainly because it encourages me to keep going . . . .
