I laugh at myself. Writing in a blog, what next? Sometimes I just have the need to vent about things. What things? Homeschooling... Homebirthing... God... Church... and many others, but those are my big ones. So here goes.
Homeschooling is most on my mind lately. I think I really suck at it, don't tell my ... umm, well, certain family members, they think I suck at it too!! haha Well, honestly, I'm not all that worried about sucking at it at this point, but I'm thinking I should probably get much butt in gear soon. But, there in lies part of my dilemma... I feel like I believe in two very different types of homeschooling. Once again I find myself wanting to straddle both sides of a very wide fence. There are they ultra relaxed unschoolers, that believe that mainly school is just taking a closer look at the real life around us. Well, that's a bit of a sterio type, but, that's my take on it. Then there's the super-homeschoolers that do everything right and are ready to enter college at age 9. Yes, ha, ok, at bit of an extreme there too. I can tell you honestly, that I have family members that sit on both sides of these fences, I'm blessed to be able to observe them. But where do I fit in to all that? I had rather hoped I would be a bit of a super mom and have my kids reading early, which I don't really agree with, but would kinda enjoy the ooooo's and ahhhh's over my kids being so "smart" (btw, early reading doesn't mean your child is smarter...It all tends to even out). But, here I sit. My 6 yr old is not reading yet. He maybe could, if we tried a little harder, but, HE does NOT want to try harder!! He wants to play! He wants to shoot guns, build lego, jump around and make loud fart sounds with his mouth behind our backs hoping to scare us! He's all boy. And many many studies say to not push boy's, they'll get it much better if you wait. My personal belief is to surround them with a rich learning environment, but not necessarily book work, and then they'll suddenly "get" it. I know, this sounds an aweful lot like unschooling...But, I really don't like the looks of many of the unschoolers I see to be honest. I see a lot of undisciplined (not behavior discipline, lifestyle) children, who really aren't learning all that much from they're environment, who wear pajama's all day, eat at random times and go to bed once they're exhausted, not at a bed time. Now, I can't say that I really think it's horrible to be that way, but what I will say, is that isn't what I want for my children. I think those types of unschoolers can still become wonderful hard working adults. I just don't want that for MY children. I feel like I struggle with an undisciplined lifestyle myself and I would like my children to have the advantage of some for themselves. But, is a disciplined lifestyle all it's chalked up to be anyways?? *sigh* dilemma dilemma... Really, there's no way of knowing. It's probably more about personality type then anything. I just have felt embarrassed when I couldn't get my meals on time, or or or... oh something. So right now, I feel like I do generally try very hard (for me) to have some discipline, it's just not really IN me very much. But, it is SOME, truly! Anyways, back to homeschooling. I'm at a point right now, with my children that I should be teaching them more, at least giving them that blissful learning environment I desire. It takes a lot of effort to teach, without uhh... teaching... I want the best for my kids, not to just float through life, I really do want to teach them. But, what? How? I do believe in education, and having well educated children. I want my kids to be able to pursue whatever they desire, having a high school diploma is important to me for that reason. So as much as I want them to be able to learn at their own pace, I don't want them to be behind either. Yes, straddling the fence.
So, what AM I doing?? We read, a fair bit. We're working on the Narnia Chronicles right now, they love it. We do math, but not much book work. More so just the math that naturally occurs every day. For example- "Kids, we're having company for supper, there's going to be 3 extra people, how many plates will we need on the table?" Then we'll say it in math terms "ok, so that means 4+3 =7, good!" They're getting good at addition in 10 and under. I really want them to feel comfortable in that area before moving on. We also talk about science things, how things are made, how things work, ect. Larry's good with letting the kids discover in the shop and figure things out. So, all in all, I personally feel we're actually doing ok with them. But so many people disagree, because.. they don't yet read! I think they'll read just fine, soon, and they'll enjoy it, because it wont be a battle. They love books now, so I think reading won't be an issue. I just get so tired of defending myself sometimes.... Then I question...
The one thing I really believe in, which we are doing, is enforcing chores. I think it's vital during childhood. No, not for free labor (although my 5 yr old thinks that the only reason I had children is so I had someone to vacuum the floor!! hahahaha! Without them, my floor wouldn't need so much vacuuming!) . But I believe that it's very important to teach children chores to build self esteem (being an essential part of a household) and self worth (they can do a very good job with simple chores and thus believing they are good at something!). I think it's important to learn to be responsible for yourself too, not relying on everyone else to carry you through life. Well, I should go, put a few of my beliefs into practice. There's so much more on this subject, I'm sure I poorly expressed myself. Somehow, we'll make it through homeschooling, unless, they go to school... which is a whole 'nuther post!
Monday, January 28, 2008
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