Homeschooling Adventures Part One...

We're about seven months into full-time homeschooling (which is only part of the reason I haven't posted in so long, the other being a whole other blog post for another time).  The kids are working at or above grade level in most areas of most subjects.  OK, really, both kids are above grade level in almost everything.  The one thing we're facing challenges with is that my older child was never encouraged to memorize any basic math facts, nor was she taught clear strategies to work out basic math facts (not even finger math or using manipulatives regularly!).  This is a sticking point, one we're working on a lot more now.  But fractions, geometry, and mathematical concepts?  We're going strong.  

I'm glad my kids did attend school for a time.  My older one really was not getting her educational needs met by her second year in her magnet school in New Haven.  I had to advocate for her constantly just to get her into a reading situation that reflected something close to her reading level.  I didn't have the energy to fight for the math too, and that is part of why we're behind (see above) now.  The teacher she had, who was facing the same challenges most teachers face today in schools, was clearly overwhelmed with her multi-aged classroom.  Instead of it working to benefit the whole class, it was like she was dragging along those who needed more time and constantly forcing those who were ahead of the curve to repeat work (like six months in the exact same workbook my older did the year before?!).  I wish it was uncommon, but it seems that this is how it is.  These systems of education really are ideal for the kids who are middle of the road.  If you're advanced or find some work challenging, it is just more difficult to have a positive learning experience for a lot of kids.  

That said, she enjoyed her friends, library time, sometimes Art was OK and when she was allowed to go to the more advanced classroom for reading, she loved every minute of it.  Last year, that was the best we could do for her.

At the same time, my little one thrived and blossomed and loved absolutely everything about school -- except nap time.  She was in PreK4 and hadn't napped since she was 18 months old (this is part of why I look SO much older since my kids hit that age, you see).   She hated nap time so much she'd resist going to school at all.  But, that aside, her teacher was truly a gem among teachers with the amazing skill of creating a true classroom community.  Her kids worked together, worked through differences, built bridges... if our society could learn from that room full of four year olds, we'd achieve world peace in eight days or less.  It was AMAZING.  And my kid, along with most of the class, "graduated" able to read.  And this was part of what sealed the deal on homeschooling.  If she could read before Kindergarten, we'd be in the same boat as we'd been with our elder child all over again with our younger.  I simply don't care to spend so much energy working so hard for such little result.  Plus, I'm working my jobs part-time at present, so here we are homeschooling since school let out in June.

So far, our biggest challenges have been around the transition overall.  I haven't gotten into the groove of working out and we finally found a Y that would watch both kids at Amazing Kids while I worked out during school hours.  It's been almost three months and I've only gone about four times.  I need exercise to feel like a healthy, kind human, so this is something I need to work on.  Meals have created some interesting opportunities as well, as we negotiate what we're going to be eating, who's taking on which jobs related to meals, etc. on the days we're actually home (usually twice or three times a week).  Used to be they'd make their own sandwiches, pick out their own veggies and fruit and a snack bar for later in the day.  Now we only get lunches ready when we have plans to be out.  It has actually changed the way we shop a bit, believe it or not.  And of course, the transition away from beloved friends who live more than 25 minutes away has also been rough.  We tried to stay in touch.  But that, you see, requires both parties to do some work, set aside time, drive someplace.  We're willing, but so far, we have only been able to meet up with one friend from their old school.  And that's partly because the mom from that family and I are friendly.  

So we've made a point of being super-consistent getting our kids to their regular activities, where they've had long-standing, if casual friendships other kids (in some cases for five years or more).   And, of course, we've made new friends too -- most of them from our AWESOME homeschool co-op.  We tend to be out and about and schooling out of the house more often than we are actually homeschooling, and we actually have very little time for playdates at present.  That may change in the future when my work situation is different.  For now, the time my children spend is divided between things they "need" to do to keep on task with our educational plan for this year, the things they "need" to do at home (light chores), things they like to do at home (mostly read and play, dance around, and occasionally watch a documentary that ties into our lessons), and the things they like to do in formalized activities, such as bowling league, dance, gymnastics, religious education classes, homeschool ice skating classes and co-op.  We also take several hours a week to do family activities.  My personal favorite is to go to the Wheeler YMCA, teach them swimming for about 10 minutes (I am a certified WSI) and then we just hang out and play in the pool for an hour or so.  This is wonderful time, because I get to let them take the reins completely while we all interact together.  It is precious, because when they have free time at home, I am usually working.  And in the pool, I often get cuddles and I get climbed on and we play dolphins or alligators or something equally fun, and enjoyable and truly child-like.  With bright kids, it is important to me that they remember to mess around and actually act their ages.  

Now that I've laid the groundwork, I'll share some more specifics next time.

Be well!