Where the games begin

Now that we've gotten our very first year of homeschool underway, and I have a good idea of how to execute it, I thought I might finally lay out the nuts and bolts of how we go about this business of educating kids outside of a classroom. 

I suppose I should say, first, that it turns out in our neck of the woods that homeschooling is less of a commonality than I had imagined it would be.  Eighty percent of the time when the concept has come up in conversation, there have been raised eyebrows and sure looks asking Are You Crazy?  More often than not, homeschoolers in our area tend to be extremely religious families looking to shield their children from outside influences, which is fine, for each family to do whatever they feel most appropriate for their children, but that is not our reasoning.  I suppose in the most cut and dry way I can say that Kevin and I want to see each of our children to learn at his or her own speed, and from the world around them.  I think that if the goal of education in general is for children to have understandings of certain concepts by the time they reach adulthood, there has to be more than one way to go about attaining that goal, right?

And I won't lie.  Being an elementary teacher pre-motherhood, and now having the freedom to again shop teacher's stores and write weeks of lesson plans and research art and science projects?  Bees knees, friends. 

We began last week by reviewing already-known concepts and practicing our printing, and this week we moved into more of the real deal, and the solar system.

My boys have long loved the stars, planets and galaxies, so I grabbed it and took off.  (To the Adler Planetarium, here.) 

My plan is for us to study one major concept at a time, for about a week or two each, while pulling in reading, writing and math every day.  KJ gets lots of reading time, and enjoys choosing whatever the mood strikes him to read about.  It is sometimes nice, to focus a solid chunk of afternoon on Spiderman. 

I invested approximately $50 in math, spelling, reading and science workbooks at both Barnes & Noble and the dollar store earlier this summer, at the first grade and preschool levels.  Beyond that we use all that's been collected from book orders over the years, and from our library. 

That being said, I create my own curriculum and don't really feel the need to spend loads of money on a pre-planned laid-out one. I can happily report that the internet is absolutely overflowing with first and second grade learning criteria, as well as printable worksheets and project ideas.  Earlier this summer I purchased The Teacher's Calendar book, which lists all major happenings, anniversaries and births by date.  Each day I choose one fact for us to research, which has so far gained us understandings of Mother Teresa and what it means to be a humanitarian, Martin Luther King Jr's March on Washington, the discovery of the Titanic and the origin of the US Treasury. 

We generally work for two or three hours each morning while Marin naps, and then finish up whatever is left on the day's list throughout the afternoon.  Our homeschool room has already grown to a bit of a disaster, with collecting materials for upcoming projects and activities.  I have no choice at this point but to embrace the clutter.  Maybe we all can grow this year?

Most of all, so far, I love taking cues from the kids throughout our sessions.  I create a daily checklist of must-accomplish activities, listing everything from subtraction worksheets to board games, and the boys choose the order and check off the boxes.  Our learning is child-led in this way, which I hope will foster a continued interest in learning (and checklists!) when they are older.  We have the freedom to skip over pages if they aren't quite useful, as well as the option to sit, stand, kneel or hop on one leg or the other while working.  I am pretty sure we will scratch the second grade surface by mid-year, and cannot wait to find where that takes us.  And of course, it works out wonderfully when they begin getting antsy, to have the freedom to call recess and send them out the back door for a bit.

This is exactly the way I wished to teach when I was in the classroom years ago, only couldn't with twenty-two children at a time, for obvious reasons.

I know that this homeschooling gig isn't for everyone, (and I'm almost daring myself not to say it, because every time I make sweeping proclamations about parenting they must somehow find ways to be turned completely upon their heads,) and that it isn't exactly the most popular avenue for American education, or the best-known, but I really think this is a great thing for us.  I feel completely in my element here, and the kids are so excited to jump right in every day.  

May I still feel exactly this same bliss and dedication as we're tackling parts of speech in the dead of winter, a few months from now.

Comments

[Annette]

I am not a teacher and it seems like eons since I have been in school, however, it sounds to me as though you have a pretty good game plan. Best of luck in your endeavor. (You may correct spelling and grammer if you so desire!)

[Frema]

It's like you were born to do this!

I love your classroom and the projects the boys have been doing. Even if homeschooling isn't for everyone, I think we can all glean some interesting take-aways for things to do with our own kids when the time comes.

Nathan and I will be excited to see you, too!

P.S. My 5K on 9/26 is part of a central Indiana corporate challenge for businesses. I'm betting you've signed up for something more community-focused. :)

[Jen L.]

Thanks for sharing this with all of us. This is so fascinating to me, since I know I would never be able to do it. (Ok, maybe not NEVER, but you know.) You sound really happy. Frema's right--I think you were born to do this! Keep having fun.

[Cindy]

Hey Moll~ Glad to hear that things started out on the right foot for the first week of school!!

As for the pics of last week, I would love if you would email me some~

Ok, off to get the kids ready for day 2 of school!!

Love you guys!

[crookedeyebrow]

I am so very proud of you for doing what you felt was right for your children and your family.

You amaze me, all the time and I can't wait to read how the rest of your first year goes!

[Stacey]

I so look forward to your posts, Molly! Just when I think you can't go any more SuperMom than you already are, there's something else waiting - travels here and there, adoption in your future, home school...I'm always excited to see what's next. You are an amazing mom, and the teacher in me is soooo excited to see how this first year of homeschool goes.

[AJU5's Mom]

Glad the boys are taking to it so easily and you are enjoying it!
Another great site for handouts- EdHelper! Lots of free things there for sure!

[C @ Kid Things]

The boys look (and sound) like they're enjoying themselves, and I'm sure being a teacher helps with the whole teaching aspect. It all seems like a good fit.

[SJ]

I admire you greatly for taking on this challenge, but I have to say...it doesn't sound like much of a challenge to you at all!

You really are in your element (it shows!) and your kids really are enjoying themselves (love the photos!) and really, best of luck to you. Your kids are going to come out just fine on the other end :)

PS: Email is coming, promise.

[Nikki]

it really sounds like you've got it right. Wouldn't it be fab if all children could learn in such a stress-free environment. I worked in a primary school for a couple of years as a teaching assistant, I can't tell you how often it was clear that some of the children (mostly the boys) really needed to go and have ten minutes of running round and making a noise at regular periods but the teachers just couldn't allow it. Wishing you continued happiness.