This morning, while writing an email about homeschooling to a Twitter friend, I had a sudden realization. When I chose our curriculum, I picked the one that I thought would be best for me, not for my girls.
I can see it so clearly now. To compensate for my insecurities, I selected a very structured and well rounded curriculum. It wasn’t a bad choice, and it has definitely been a good beginning. It has given M an incredible foundation in phonics and reading. It is not, however, our final destination.
It’s one of those things that you have to learn by trying, I think. It wasn’t until we were “in the trenches” that I could see what homeschooling was really like. There I could make better decisions on how to approach the different subjects. And I realized that hand picking specific curriculums for different subjects would not be as overwhelming as I had thought.
Over the next few weeks, I plan to share some of the things I learned during the first semester this year. Notice I said what I learned, because I think I’ve discovered just as much as the kids have…not about phonics and math, but about my kids and learning. I won’t be posting about homeschool every day, since many of you don’t homeschool, but I’ll sprinkle those posts in with my others. Hopefully it will be interesting and helpful to some of you!
This week, the focus of Fresh Year, Fresh Start is on our children. Today, Teri Lynne at Pleasing to You and Kelly at Wisdom Begun have written great posts on discipline. I encourage you to hop over and visit their blogs…and I’d love it if you left a comment and told them I sent you!
- Erin
Twitter: HeartforHim
says:
Thanks for your honesty in this post! I’m making decisions now for our homeschool future (my oldest is 4). It’s encouraging to know that I can always evaluate when we’ve tried something out for a while!
Glad my question inspired a blog post
I’m excited to see what other words of wisdom you give us!! I’ve got my notepad ready.
Twitter: reallifesarah
says:
Great tips, Erin. I don’t homeschool, but my kids are all three so different, it would be so hard to choose one curriculum! I have the kinesthetic learner who is a math whiz, and must be constantly moving. Then I have the quiet introvert who loves to read, but spells like her father.
I am in awe of anyone who homeschools!!
Twitter: MutheringHeight
says:
I’m looking forward to reading more of your revelations…I hope to home educate too!
Twitter: lorizimbardi
says:
I have no idea how homeschooling moms do it. I admire your dedication to your children and their education!!! No matter what your choices of curriculum it is obvious your kids come first and that is awesome.
Twitter: nonsensical2
says:
Great post! And so very true. I was homeschooled my whole life and am now schooling my own two. And one of the best thing I love about it is that you honestly can just figure out what works not only for you, but for each of your kids and then have the freedom to do it! I only used maybe 3 or 4 different types of curriculum growing up so those are the ones I’m trying out right now, but it’s also great to know that I can have so many other options if that’s not what’s best for my kids. Good luck with figuring things out and I look forward to reading more about it!
While I am not currently homeschooling, I realize that I may someday and am glad I read your post. I’m sure I would begin, like you, with something structured and safe to ensure that my children were getting all the basics mastered. I look forward to hearing more about what you’ve discovered works for you!
Twitter: dailydwelling
says:
I am really looking forward to reading more of your thoughts on your homeschool time. We have learned so much this year, too. And I think I am growing just as much as my two little girls are!