What I've Learned About Homeschooling: To the Beginner
Here are my continued thoughts on homeschooling (I've posted about this in the past but decided to share again), along with some tips and personal experiences (with humor) that we have shared during our 16 year journey.
CURRICULUM: Our family has used a collection of curriculum over the years, including KONOS, My Father's World, and Christian Liberty Academy, Teaching Textbooks Math, Aleks- for advanced math credits and tutoring, and we briefly used Saxon Math.
We compiled our own personalized collection of ideas and books/learning materials up through Pre-K. We started using Christian Liberty Press between K-1st grade; but found that it was more like public school, except for at home. We did the book work although we were somewhat relaxed, starting around nine in the morning and working diligently every day; but with plenty of outdoor time. We switched to KONOS for 2nd grade, and this approach was not structured enough for me. I needed something more systematic. By third grade we had discovered My Father's World and it was a fit for our family. We used this curriculum each year after; up through high-school. We also added other resources as needed (or if the kids had a special interest).
MY THOUGHTS ON EARLY EDUCATION: While I have found that most children are not ready for structured learning between the ages of 3-5, our children responded well to playing learning games. We also practiced vowel sounds throughout the day while reading aloud. Letter/color/shape games, puzzles, computer games (like Reader Rabbit- learning shapes, colors, letters, pattern sorting, etc.) and/or writing/drawing/creating "books" together were activities that we enjoyed. This age group is my favorite age to teach. These littles are precious sponges with sweet attitudes and are always anxious to please- IF you take the time to earn their attention by being attentive to how they learn and how long they are able to pay attention. Sometimes this means doing an activity over and over, or reading the same book over and over, or not doing something, if they are spent for the day.
Speaking of reading...Kids are never to young to read together. Yes, you read aloud to them. I cannot stress how important reading aloud together is. Just do it. You will instill in your child a love for the written word, familiarity with language by hearing it, familiarity with letters and words by seeing them, plus you will increase their vocabulary. The bonding time when reading together is irreplaceable. Just do it. You will not regret this time spent together. At nap time I had to limit Julia (our youngest) to picking out 20 board books that we would read together each day. She didn't like naps and so she would just keep on wanting to read if I had not limited her. Reading is a fun and enjoyable time together.
At the age of four- as a fun project, Jonathan (our oldest who is now 16) co-authored his first "book". We named the book "Todd the Frog". Although he could read and write a complete sentence by this age, I had him dictate the words to me while I typed them into the computer (we used a font that could be colored). TIP: Younger kids will burn out easily if you require too much of them academically; a project like this is for fun as well as to learn (keep this in mind over-achiever moms). That said, together, we printed out his book and clipped it into it's own binder (with a custom cover). Jonathan colored the words and we talked about the story while he colored (stopping here and there for his brief outbursts of dramatic expression- to emphasize the story). He helped create the artwork using a computer program, and he colored that by hand as well. Afterward he could read his book on his own since I had mostly encouraged him to use words that he already knew how to sound out. It was a simple project using words like Todd, frog, hop, jump, shop, etc., He had fun. We made plenty of silly sound effects every time we read the book. He "owned" his project. Creating ownership while working on projects helps kids put their heart into their work. This approach is a glimpse into our Pre-K through K grade years of homeschooling with Jonathan. We introduced more scheduled book work during first, second, and third grade on up.
Back-tracking: Jonathan learned to read through hearing words and seeing words; we read aloud together Every. Single. Day. We also sang silly songs together (which had names and sounds of the letters), made up fun word and letter games (Hide-N-Seek Words), and acted out finger puppet skits to children's versions of stories and plays like Androcles & the Lion. We did this fun stuff EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. We worked while attending to other regular daily chores (cooking & laundry) together. I'm talking lots of repetition (but of course cloaked as fun!). I believe that learning can be fun, and should be fun, because it IS fun!
With our children, it seems that as long as you don't link the word "school" to an activity, it seems to be interpreted as agreeable and fun whether or not it is educational.
Anyway, Jonathan had a good attention span; played alone easily, and focused on activities like building a track and playing with toy trains for a couple of hours at a time, daily. Along with these activities, he also played his favorite computer game Reader Rabbit almost each day (because I'm all about using available resources, and every teacher needs a break).
Speaking of media sources...Jonathan also learned Spanish words from watching Dora. For a while he also became obsessed with a cooking show. He watched that collection of episodes over and over and over; after that he was infatuated with lobsters... and wanted to eat at Red Lobster.
Back-tracking: Jonathan learned to read through hearing words and seeing words; we read aloud together Every. Single. Day. We also sang silly songs together (which had names and sounds of the letters), made up fun word and letter games (Hide-N-Seek Words), and acted out finger puppet skits to children's versions of stories and plays like Androcles & the Lion. We did this fun stuff EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. We worked while attending to other regular daily chores (cooking & laundry) together. I'm talking lots of repetition (but of course cloaked as fun!). I believe that learning can be fun, and should be fun, because it IS fun!
With our children, it seems that as long as you don't link the word "school" to an activity, it seems to be interpreted as agreeable and fun whether or not it is educational.
Anyway, Jonathan had a good attention span; played alone easily, and focused on activities like building a track and playing with toy trains for a couple of hours at a time, daily. Along with these activities, he also played his favorite computer game Reader Rabbit almost each day (because I'm all about using available resources, and every teacher needs a break).
Speaking of media sources...Jonathan also learned Spanish words from watching Dora. For a while he also became obsessed with a cooking show. He watched that collection of episodes over and over and over; after that he was infatuated with lobsters... and wanted to eat at Red Lobster.
Julia (our second child) came along when Jonathan was almost five. Yeah, I know, we were supposed to have three or four other children between this time slot to fit your 'home school family' stereo type; but we didn't. Yet, things changed drastically. Gone was the one-on-one learning time Jonathan and I had grown used to. We had to reinvent our family educational system. This evolved over time through tears, trial, error, and success. To this day the process is still evolving as Julia heads into 6th grade this fall, and as Jonathan has been tackling college algebra over the summer.
When Julia was little she was completely different than Jonathan. She wanted to do everything together. Every. Single. Moment. Alone time? No. No alone time mom. I'm pretty sure in hindsight, that she watched too much TV as a toddler because that was the only way I could steal away and work on kindergarten lessons with Jonathan. (P.S. don't tell James Dobson about that, or my mom). Yet, we incorporated Julia into the lessons as often as possible, because she wanted to be with US and be doing what WE were doing...Every. Single. Day. Although she couldn't comprehend what was going on at the same level, she learned things and she felt included.
Julia did not read well until she was six. All of the books say that "...each child is different" and I knew this, because I read all of the books. Okay, maybe I just read some of the books. Anyway, navigating the real situation was completely new for us. We didn't push her to learn in the same way as Jonathan had; we werecareful and patient. Okay, maybe I was just burned out, but anyway, careful and patient sometimes looks very similar to burned out. I could tell that Julia was not inclined to pay attention as well, or as early as Jonathan and so we took the whole "learning to read" thing at a slower pace.
From observation (Julia drew on the walls, measured her stuffed animals and drew lines to mark their "growth"; she played with Play Dough almost every day, and she loved to "cook" and play outside in the dirt). Julia is our kinesthetic or experiential learner. It also became apparent, early on, that one of her best strengths is in relational skills. She understood other people's feelings and expressions from a young age; she made friends easily. Eventually, she learned how to read but at her own pace, AND when SHE was interested and ready. I tried not to sweat it then, and to this day she has not fallen behind academically (if you care to measure/compare children's knowledge by grade level). Now she is an avid reader and can knock out a chapter book in a day, if she chooses- depending on how interesting she finds it to be (and particularly if she is grounded from TV or computer). This brings me to a great point.
Don't worry if your six-year-old is just now learning to read. There is no perfect educational timeline. Your family's educational experience will evolve. Education is not an inside-four-walls experience. You don't have to measure your success as a parent and teacher by how early your children read, or by how many facts that they can regurgitate at an early age; or if they are on track with their (insert other choices of schooling) peers. Your child's education starts before you even open the first book; it starts with your attitude. It starts with your love, your intent, your nurturing, your attentiveness to the purpose of education (Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. This rule applies to everything, so be faithful and persistent; focus on your purpose.
Learning starts when your child is born and it will not end until they die. This is the beauty of growth.
Teaching your children to love learning and how to be persistent is the key to succeeding at this whole home schooling thing. The most important, critical, TOP pointer that I can give to you after having personally home schooled for 16+ years: Learn to love learning, and your kids will love to learn.
THE EXTRA STUFF:
Christian parents contemplating homeschooling, I highly recommend reading Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson or The Self Propelled Advantage: Independent Motivated Excellence (or any comparable book covering the same subject matter). A book of this genre will give you some idea of your options on educational approach/techniques, as well as bringing to mind some complexities that you may not have considered about what education is.
Julia did not read well until she was six. All of the books say that "...each child is different" and I knew this, because I read all of the books. Okay, maybe I just read some of the books. Anyway, navigating the real situation was completely new for us. We didn't push her to learn in the same way as Jonathan had; we were
From observation (Julia drew on the walls, measured her stuffed animals and drew lines to mark their "growth"; she played with Play Dough almost every day, and she loved to "cook" and play outside in the dirt). Julia is our kinesthetic or experiential learner. It also became apparent, early on, that one of her best strengths is in relational skills. She understood other people's feelings and expressions from a young age; she made friends easily. Eventually, she learned how to read but at her own pace, AND when SHE was interested and ready. I tried not to sweat it then, and to this day she has not fallen behind academically (if you care to measure/compare children's knowledge by grade level). Now she is an avid reader and can knock out a chapter book in a day, if she chooses- depending on how interesting she finds it to be (and particularly if she is grounded from TV or computer). This brings me to a great point.
Don't worry if your six-year-old is just now learning to read. There is no perfect educational timeline. Your family's educational experience will evolve. Education is not an inside-four-walls experience. You don't have to measure your success as a parent and teacher by how early your children read, or by how many facts that they can regurgitate at an early age; or if they are on track with their (insert other choices of schooling) peers. Your child's education starts before you even open the first book; it starts with your attitude. It starts with your love, your intent, your nurturing, your attentiveness to the purpose of education (Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. This rule applies to everything, so be faithful and persistent; focus on your purpose.
Learning starts when your child is born and it will not end until they die. This is the beauty of growth.
Teaching your children to love learning and how to be persistent is the key to succeeding at this whole home schooling thing. The most important, critical, TOP pointer that I can give to you after having personally home schooled for 16+ years: Learn to love learning, and your kids will love to learn.
THE EXTRA STUFF:
Christian parents contemplating homeschooling, I highly recommend reading Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson or The Self Propelled Advantage: Independent Motivated Excellence (or any comparable book covering the same subject matter). A book of this genre will give you some idea of your options on educational approach/techniques, as well as bringing to mind some complexities that you may not have considered about what education is.
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