When I decided that our homeschooling curriculum would be the path of classical education I knew that there was a lot expected of me as a teacher and as my kids as students. The schedule outlined in the books was a bit overwhelming with everything to be taught during the day.
I’m all for my kids learning as much as they can but I also believe that they should experience the great outdoors and be physically active.
As we worked through separate books on grammar, writing, spelling, math, etc. I was feeling like too much time was spent indoors and that subjects weren’t lining up as I had expected them to. I thought that grammar, reading, and writing would be all on the same page.
Also, I noticed that my daughter wasn’t enjoying the learning we were doing. I know that school isn’t always fun but I didn’t like seeing her sigh and get all attitude-y when I said it was time to learn.
So, I started to do things different. Instead of doing separate workbooks for subjects I figured out how I could merge them together.
Before we were spending about 30 minutes on grammar, 45 minutes on writing, 20 minutes on reading, and 20 minutes on cursive. That was a lot of time and frankly I wasn’t always able to do all this in a day.
Instead, I changed it up and had her read a chapter of a book she enjoyed (we just finished Dracula), then we would talk about grammar from the reading, she would do writing based on the chapter and the writing would be in cursive. This takes 20 to 30 minutes each day and it’s so much easier on all of us.
There wasn’t as much attitude when it was time to learn (is it possible to completely get rid of attitude from kids?) and it left us with more time to play outside.
I don’t know why it took me so long to figure out I could teach in my own way. Maybe it’s because this is all so new to us still.
So the lesson I want to pass on to others is that you can be flexible in what you do when homeschooling.
Let the curriculum plan be your guide but not your commandments. It’s not carved in stone, you can change it.
Do what works best for your family and don’t forget to allow time for playing.
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That’s the best part about homeschooling, isn’t it? Doing what works for YOUR family.
Alison recently posted..I Remember Her
That is one of the nice things about homeschooling. We can be flexible with what works for us.
The last sentence should have included the words “and grandma”.
I thought that was implied.
Twitter: AccidentalDesig
says:
Girl, you didn’t take long. You took short.
From where I am now, I wish I had started with the classical method. I thought I was smarter than everyone else and didn’t listen to my kids when they showed me Charlotte Mason wouldn’t work with them. It’s great. It’s just not for them.
They would have eaten it up with a spoon.
Maggie S. recently posted..Thoughts On the Vote
The beauty of homeschooling is that it can be changed according to what works for the kids.
Twitter: babspinfrance
says:
I love this! In the end you do what is best for you, your family and your kids. Very few ever fit into the “textbook” and they all need to learn in their own way!
Barbara recently posted..A day at the beach…
Exactly! Even with my two kids the way they learn is different.
Twitter: bocafrau
says:
This sounds like wonderful advice. I’ve seen and heard many different homeschooling stories and no matter which way you do it… as long as it works for you, stick with it!
Susi recently posted..Hopscotch… {Wordless Wednesday}
That’s right!
Twitter: krrobi
says:
Nobody knows our kids like WE DO.
Keep up the good work, Mama. Xxx
My Inner Chick recently posted..The Madonna Experience
Thank you! I’m doing my best.
Twitter: fromtracie
says:
I love that you found the system that works for you and your kids. That is awesome, and what homeschooling is really all about.
Tracie recently posted..Fall Weekends With Melissa
One of the hardest things was just learning that I could change things up to fit our needs better instead of following the curriculum exactly.
Twitter: corp2domestic
says:
I’m so impressed with your mad skills!
Natalie recently posted..What Would You Do?
Thank you Natalie! I’m trying.
I don’t think you took long to figure it out at all. Good for you for taking the method you want to use and tailoring it to your kids and their needs. As a former teacher, I really believe integrating subjects is really helpful
angela recently posted..Trust, Equality, and Bathing Suits
It is really helpful and saves so much time.
I think that would be the best part of homeschooling…flexibility, doing it your own way, lots of outdoor play and physical activity. It sounds like you’re doing awesome!!
Runnermom-jen recently posted..To Be Thankful…
We’ve been trying to get in as much outdoor play as we can before the weather turns too cold.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
My school didn’t have a beach. #NotFair
You’re doing a great job, Assy!
Kimberly recently posted..Essence of Now: All Jumbled Up
Clearly you went to the wrong school.
Twitter: gfunkified
says:
Yes! Just like anything else, homeschooling takes trial and error. It’s great that you figured out a better way to do things for your girls. That just shows that you made the right decision and know what they need and can figure out how to give it to them.
Greta recently posted..Project 365: Week 45
Thank you, Greta. I know there will be many struggles along the way as we homeschool but I’m open to change so I think that will help us be successful.
I find in each and every single thing I do, flexibility is key! Glad you are finding the right balance for you and your students.
Tonya recently posted..Dear Family
Flexibility really is the key and it keeps the stress away which is always good.
Whew. As we finish up a map project for our classical homeschool curriculum I wish I had never undertaken…I say amen!
Texasholly recently posted..my 6 year old editor
Lessons learned, right?