Teaching Art
I teach art classes at our local co-op and occasionally from my home, so I’m always on the lookout for great lessons or new project ideas. If you are looking to incorporate art into your school day but lessons aren’t in your budget, there are several art curriculums available for home use. Here are a few of them: Draw Write Now by Marie Hablitzel
De-schooling – A Necessary Step
Pre-school was a great experience for my son. Kindergarten was a different story. Two months in, I began to notice the first signs of what would eventually become full out panic attacks. When, after investigating, I finally found the source of my son’s anxiety, I realized he needed a break. Initially, homeschooling was, for us, a reprieve. I had no idea three years later
Importance of Play
Growing up I was given responsibilities early on. I would watch my younger siblings playing make believe or running around having fun and felt out of place. Being responsible and serious seemed to make my kid feeling ebb away. Since my son was born, I have tried hard to play with him. When he was a toddler one day, we were playing with clay.
Free Time for Mommy
It’s nice to have a break- no kids, no planning, just quiet time with my own thoughts. I was able to enjoy that this past weekend when my husband announced he was taking the kids to the park. It was an hour and a half of pure bliss. As a homeschooling parent, I find very little down time since I have to make the
Late Night Talks
It’s nine in the morning and my son is still sleeping soundly. My parents would be horrified. On a school day no less! Everything we had planned for today can be pushed forward for later, tomorrow or the day after that. Oh, the joy of home learning! Nothing should disturb a sleeping child I believe, because in dreaming, that child solidifies all the knowledge
Answers
Catching myself sometimes just giving my son the answer to any question posed to me. It’s how I was raised- to believe adults held all the knowledge and everything they told me was real and true. You can imagine how disappointed and betrayed I felt when I realized that adult truths were spotty at best. I was sometimes also told to stop asking so
Unschooling
The other day at the park, I watched a woman with four children arrive. Her children ran in all directions in unadulterated joy, whooping and yelling. Our kids started playing together so we started a conversation. She was a homeschooling mom too but she emphasized that she unschools her children. In the homeschooling world, it’s the unschoolers who are the radicals! I have met
Getting Dad Involved
For many of our homeschooling years, I worked with our children as their only teacher. As my oldest son made his way through middles school, however, I knew I needed some extra help, and we joined a co-op where he could take classes in math and science. At times, I tried to get my husband involved in the schooling too; a history buff and
Mommy Does the Laundry
Our days are full with projects, day trips, playgroups, errands and chores. Since I am the one that is at home, I take on the responsibility of the housework, cooking and shopping. One day recently, I was horrified when I overheard my son tell a friend that was visiting,”yeah, when I get old, I’ll get a wife so she can do everything in the
Perpetual Classroom
Recently we were at a birthday party and I was enjoying some uncommon light conversation with the other parents. Several times we were interrupted by children with the usual complaints, needs, etc. Every single time, I noted the parent quickly dispatched his or her child with ‘not now’ ‘go ask your father’ and the ever popular ‘how many times have I told you not
