Back to Randi's Homeschooling series...Tuesday, August 7---How do you homeschool?Scheduling, classical education, unschooling, getting the kids to help with chores, how to be "mom" and "teacher" at the same time, special needs, teaching an advanced child, how to teach the tough subjects, teaching high school, teaching with babies and preschoolers in the house, budgeting for homeschool supplies, notebooking, etc., etc., etc...
Boy, this is a tough topic! It seems each day is a different day at Moody School. Sometimes I feel I more unschool then homeschool - letting the chilluns pick up what interests them and move in their direction. I'm not happy about this. It's more due to laziness but at the same time - they are learning to research and love educating themselves.
Last year (We'll be starting school in 3 weeks) we had a hard time getting around in the morning so our school day didn't begin till 9:00am, sometimes 9:30am. I'd like that to change this year.
We always begin with Bible. This sets the tone for the day. We read a chapter and discuss. I ask questions. I answer questions and perhaps we do research to find answers to those questions. Then we pray. We pray for family, friends and the world. I really want my children to love praying for the world. We consider current events, mission activities, and we get a hold of prayer guides.
We then separate. Emma goes off to do her thing. She is a self-learner-give her her books and she'll read and study without much interference from me. Aidan needs the attention of my eyes and ears, so we sit at the kitchen table and read our history, do math, spelling, dictation, read and then we sit on the couch and I read to him.
Emma comes back near the end of the school day (around 3:00pm) for me to check her math and take the occasional spelling or math test.
Now let's throw a monkey-wrench into this lovely scene of domestic bliss - LIAM!
When he was one and still taking two naps a day - no problem. He turned two and still at 1.5 - 2 naps, we could handle it. Now he's three and he wants our attention. Unfortunately the DVD player has been given more attention to him than his mother. Slap me now, I know. It's my coping mechanism. I want to incorporate him into a schooling activity, drawing, listening to books on cd or one of us reading to him. That's the plan but sometimes I throw up my hands and surrender to a movie. This year I am thinking Aidan will need less one-on-one time so I can be proactive with Liam. It's a work in progress.
I don't budget for homeschooling supplies, plain and simple. I try to buy most of them on ebay, amazon or go to the publisher. I buy something when I can afford it. I use the internet as must as possible. Lots of free stuff out there. I use the library as much as possible, though we have a small under-funded branch and have to borrow many books for other branches.
Tomorrow: getting out there: What do you do for extra-curricular activities?
8 comments:
My middle boy will wish he was part of your home schooling schedule! He HATES getting up. My oldest is like me and is an early riser. He does okay, but would love the 9:30 start!
We don't usually start until 9 am. I think that is reasonable. Allows the non morning people to wake up and the morning people to get the non essential things done.
No guilt here. Do what is best for your family!!!
We will be working on getting up earlier this year too. We are having a trial run week next week before we start school so everyone can get used to the earlier rising time (& hopefully earlier bedtime!). I'm with you on the DVDs & my almost 3 yr. old. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do!
I love your honesty.
I remember hearing one homeschooling veteran with 8 or so kids saying she homeschooles because it's easier than finding shoes for 8 kids before 7 am.
I can't even find my own shoes before 7 am.
I love homeschooling because my morning people kids can work independently until I've had enough coffee to cope! :o)
I have really been pondering whether to go back to homeschooling and since happening upon this site I feel inspired and like maybe we should. I stopped due to finances and I needed to go back to work but ..........maybe God will open a door financially Im not aware of that will enable us to do this again.
I love what one post said about the lady with 8 kids found it easier to homeschool rather than find shoes before 7am.LOL...I just have 2 and I can relate. What I love about when we homeschooled is you gear it to your child. Schools cant and wont do that. If you have one who needs you to sit and keep them more focused then you can, if you have one who isnt good in the morning they can sleep in a bit. Plus, I have a saying .... I havent met a homeschooled kid I havent liked.
I have 5 boys ~ I know what you mean the DVD makes a good babysitter.
http://tonsofsons.wordpress.com/
Oh, I remember those days - homeschooling with a toddler or two running around!
And, thanks for stopping by my blog.
I have found that we also use the TV way more for my youngest than I did for any of my other children. It just happens... we don't mean it to be that way. Oh well. I'm hoping this year I will be better about keeping him off it a bit more. Mine is 6 and will be doing more "official" school anyway.
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