I just thought I would check in with everyone, say hello and share some of my homeschooling adventure. Here is my little story. It gave me that warm fuzzy feeling. I now know that we are going to be ok.
The other day, when we were eating dinner, my oldest son asked me why I was no longer breastfeeding the baby. My answer was that she had weaned. He then asked me, "What is weaned?" Before I could answer Jessie (the one I am homeschooling) said, "It means that she isn't breastfeeding anymore, she is eating regular food and a bottle." There was a pause as the whole family looked at her. Then she said, "Whoah, how did I know that? Oh yah, I know, it's 'cause I'm smart now. Mommy is teaching me." I smiled.
I know she isn't smart 'cause I'm teaching her, but she feels smart because she isn't having to live up to the expectatioins of the classroom. I made the right decision, I only wished that I had done it earlier. She isn't covering her paper as she writes, and is sounding out words that she "can't read". She is just trying harder because she isn't feeling embarrased. Walking arround isn't a problem, shifting arround in her chair is ok. I have also found that she HATES repetition. If she has it don't review for a while or she will stare at the picture on the wall, shift arround in her chair, drop her pencil a million times, sing songs about the pictures on the page, ask about something we saw on the shelf at walmart about 3 months ago.... I have found it is ok to let her skip.
We have been going to a play group I guess you would call it, in Floyd(floydvahomeschoolers, yahoo group). Jessie has alot of fun with the other children. And she is learning spanish and to play the recorder.
So over all this had been a very good experience for us. Some days I still think, what have I gotten myself into? But that goes away pretty quickly.
My oldest son, Damion, is totally against me homeschooling him. I make little comments here and there about homeschooling, nothing pushy, just mention how fun it is, just to get his reaction. I guess the thought of staying home with mom "forever" (at his age, 10) is realy scarry. He is the whole reason I started thinking about homeschooling. Oh well, I'm just glad he has finally found a reason to like school. He has friends at school, he has always had a hard time making friends. He is finally comfortable, I don't want to mess that up.
Austin, the 7 year old boy is pretty receptive to the whole idea at this time. He is a joy to "teach". I did alot of warming up for the school year this summer with all the kids. Austin would get so excited about learning something new. He is a little information sponge. But he sees Damion's reaction and is torn between the two sides.
As for Sadie, she enjoys homeschooling. She is pulling herself up and cruzing all over the place. She loves trying new foods and repeating new sounds. Waving and saying bye bye has become her favorite way to interact. She hs just started clapping. Guess who taught her all that?
What I have learned the most is that I love to learn. I want all my children to be as enthusiastic about learning as Sadie is. They were at one time, and I don't want them to loose that thirst. I have learned that there are many ways to homeschool. But most all people agree that the child needs to want to learn, you can't force feed knowledge. Why do the schools not know this? Why did I not know this? I mean I knew it, but I had fallen into the trap of what has always been will always be. "You go to school to learn. SO LEARN DAMMIT!" This year has been very eye opening to me. I get so excited sharing all these new ideas with my husband he has to tell me to calm down (he says that I am very dramatic, I am, that is why he loves me he just doesn't know it).
Another thing that I have been thinking about is homeschooling and the internet. I have read over and over about homeschooling exploding here recently. I think it is because of the internet. I don't know where I would be without the internet. I wouldn't have homeschooled. I have gotten (almost) all my knowledge, ideas, and courage from this bright screan in front of me. Information about homeschooling was harder to find 15 years ago. Now info. is litteraly at your fingertips. Talking to "normal" people about homeschooling you get attitude and smirks. Your made to feel like homeschoolers are like bigfoot. "Shure people SAY it's out there but 'common!" You can now find support, I would not have had any support had I not found homeschooling groups a year ago. I found them on a whim. Discovering other homeschoolers showed me that I am not the only one to feel as I do. My hat goes off to the parents that homeschooled before the internet. Standing ovation. It took big kahunas.
Ginger
Written Sat Sep 23, 2006 TheBestLifeVA Yahoo group
The other day, when we were eating dinner, my oldest son asked me why I was no longer breastfeeding the baby. My answer was that she had weaned. He then asked me, "What is weaned?" Before I could answer Jessie (the one I am homeschooling) said, "It means that she isn't breastfeeding anymore, she is eating regular food and a bottle." There was a pause as the whole family looked at her. Then she said, "Whoah, how did I know that? Oh yah, I know, it's 'cause I'm smart now. Mommy is teaching me." I smiled.
I know she isn't smart 'cause I'm teaching her, but she feels smart because she isn't having to live up to the expectatioins of the classroom. I made the right decision, I only wished that I had done it earlier. She isn't covering her paper as she writes, and is sounding out words that she "can't read". She is just trying harder because she isn't feeling embarrased. Walking arround isn't a problem, shifting arround in her chair is ok. I have also found that she HATES repetition. If she has it don't review for a while or she will stare at the picture on the wall, shift arround in her chair, drop her pencil a million times, sing songs about the pictures on the page, ask about something we saw on the shelf at walmart about 3 months ago.... I have found it is ok to let her skip.
We have been going to a play group I guess you would call it, in Floyd(floydvahomeschoolers, yahoo group). Jessie has alot of fun with the other children. And she is learning spanish and to play the recorder.
So over all this had been a very good experience for us. Some days I still think, what have I gotten myself into? But that goes away pretty quickly.
My oldest son, Damion, is totally against me homeschooling him. I make little comments here and there about homeschooling, nothing pushy, just mention how fun it is, just to get his reaction. I guess the thought of staying home with mom "forever" (at his age, 10) is realy scarry. He is the whole reason I started thinking about homeschooling. Oh well, I'm just glad he has finally found a reason to like school. He has friends at school, he has always had a hard time making friends. He is finally comfortable, I don't want to mess that up.
Austin, the 7 year old boy is pretty receptive to the whole idea at this time. He is a joy to "teach". I did alot of warming up for the school year this summer with all the kids. Austin would get so excited about learning something new. He is a little information sponge. But he sees Damion's reaction and is torn between the two sides.
As for Sadie, she enjoys homeschooling. She is pulling herself up and cruzing all over the place. She loves trying new foods and repeating new sounds. Waving and saying bye bye has become her favorite way to interact. She hs just started clapping. Guess who taught her all that?
What I have learned the most is that I love to learn. I want all my children to be as enthusiastic about learning as Sadie is. They were at one time, and I don't want them to loose that thirst. I have learned that there are many ways to homeschool. But most all people agree that the child needs to want to learn, you can't force feed knowledge. Why do the schools not know this? Why did I not know this? I mean I knew it, but I had fallen into the trap of what has always been will always be. "You go to school to learn. SO LEARN DAMMIT!" This year has been very eye opening to me. I get so excited sharing all these new ideas with my husband he has to tell me to calm down (he says that I am very dramatic, I am, that is why he loves me he just doesn't know it).
Another thing that I have been thinking about is homeschooling and the internet. I have read over and over about homeschooling exploding here recently. I think it is because of the internet. I don't know where I would be without the internet. I wouldn't have homeschooled. I have gotten (almost) all my knowledge, ideas, and courage from this bright screan in front of me. Information about homeschooling was harder to find 15 years ago. Now info. is litteraly at your fingertips. Talking to "normal" people about homeschooling you get attitude and smirks. Your made to feel like homeschoolers are like bigfoot. "Shure people SAY it's out there but 'common!" You can now find support, I would not have had any support had I not found homeschooling groups a year ago. I found them on a whim. Discovering other homeschoolers showed me that I am not the only one to feel as I do. My hat goes off to the parents that homeschooled before the internet. Standing ovation. It took big kahunas.
Ginger
Written Sat Sep 23, 2006 TheBestLifeVA Yahoo group
posted by ginger | 9:36 AM
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