Being Creative as a Homeschooling Parent...

My husband and I have been trying different methods of teaching our girls since they were about two... Our girls have always proven to be very curious and catch onto things very quickly. We knew from a young age that our one daughter was very visual. She is a very creative individual and she gets distracted very easily. Our other daughter loves routine and loves the concept of completing worksheets. She is also very creative but in a much more structured fashion (perhaps we have a little architect on our hands?). We knew there would be challenges to homeschooling but now that we are starting to introduce classical studies I can see that this is going to be quite difficult. Mommy and daddy are going to have to put on our creative hats to be able to teach our creative/visual little monkey.

Our visual learner wants nothing to do with worksheets. She refuses to follow instructions and insists that doing things her way is better (it's more creative that way). She is very stubborn (I'm kind of chuckling because anyone who knows my husband and I know that we are VERY stubborn, headstrong, dominant personality types and if anyone tries to tell us to do something differently than we have decided they will be the recipients of a long detailed account of how and why we came to our decisions ;-) There is no changing our minds haha). Our visual daughter is the same. I don't want her to change either. I need to refocus myself on nurturing this and turning it into a positive. Perhaps one day she will be the owner of a very successful business and this personality type can only benefit her.  This was one of the reasons that my husband and I wanted to homeschool in the first place. We wanted our daughters to be able to experience the freedom of learning in the way that suited them best to encourage them to love learning and to never feel different or inferior for not fitting the mould of traditional schooling.

So now to take all of the classical schooling curriculum that I have and to creatively turn them into visual exercises. Perhaps I will have to take some pics and jot down what my husband and I come up with.

Onto the ever exciting journey of homeschooling for yet another day! :-)

Benefits of Homeschooling

There is much controversy that one encounters when they mention the thought of homeschooling. Although teaching from home may not be an option for everyone, it is something to consider when choosing the school/type of education that you want for your child/children. To help keep you inspired, here are some benefits to homeschooling.

Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

The Top 15 Benefits of Homeschooling

You get to...

1. Control what your children learn and when they learn it.
2. Show your children that learning is not boring, but exciting.
3. Build intimate and meaningful relationships with your children.
4. Tailor your teaching to fit your children's dominant learning styles.
5. Give your children in-depth, personal attention in any subject with which they struggle or excel.
6. Create a weekly schedule that fits your needs and allows you to do things without the constraint of a traditional classroom schedule.
7. Transfer your values and beliefs to your children and address their questions when they have them.
8. Protect your children from the negative influences they may encounter outside the home.
9. Teach more effectively by interacting with your children 1-on-1.
10. Nurture your children's natural (musical, artistic, mathematic) talents so they thrive and grow.
11. Address "big issues" with your children when you feel they're ready.
12. Share with your children the common, everyday joys of life.
13. Help your children mature through the difficult times in their lives.
14. Share the joy of teaching your children with your spouse.
15. Take vacations during the school year and make them educational.

The Top 10 Potential Disadvantages of Homeschooling

You may have to...

1. Spend 24 hours a day with your children for several days at a time.
2. Justify homeschooling to family and friends who oppose your decision to learn at home.
3. Be very patient with your children when it seems they aren't learning anything at all.
4. Deal with the frustrations of sometimes being "behind."
5. Spend more money on your children's education than you're accustomed to.
6. Get out of your comfort zone to learn how to homeschool effectively.
7. Encourage your children even when you don't feel like it.
8. Seek advice from other homeschooling parents when you encounter problems you're not equipped to handle.
9. Research a few curriculum programs before you find one that works for you and your family.
10. Put forth more effort to find children with whom your children can build quality relationships.

(this list was pulled from http://www.sonlight.com/before-you-start-homeschooling.html)

Another great link that I like because it radiates a mom's reason for homeschooling in a very positive light is from http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/reasons-to-homeschool.html)

1. Education

Surprisingly this is the least mentioned of 'objections' people raise when talking about my reasons for homeschooling. 

Yet I am constantly amazed and the scope and depth of the things we have learned (and I feel we have only just scratched the surface!). Learning never stops when you homeschool. 

Education can be not only tailored to the children's interests but also 'real life' education can take a major part (cooking, book-keeping, organising a party!). By keeping learning fresh and interesting I can develop in my children a deep curiosity and desire to know and understand the world around them. 

For me, this is one of the major advantages to homeschooling. - See more at: http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/benefits-of-homeschooling.html#sthash.Jrh8xZst.dpuf

2. Freedom

From rules and regulations. From standing in line. From asking permission to visit the bathroom or have a drink. And most importantly from restrictive time constraints. 

We have the time to investigate an interesting subject in depth. We have the time to stop and watch a caterpillar eat its way across a leaf. And we have the time to close our books and visit a museum - just because. 

We also have the flexibility to work learning into our life whatever else is happening. 

3. Family and love

Although there are proponents of 'quality time, not quantity' I wholeheartedly disagree with them! 

A family is as strong as the time it spends together. In eating, playing, learning and laughing together we are building a bond that is strong and durable. 

My children are protected in a warm and loving environment, which will give them a secure base when they venture out on their own.  

4. Morals and Values

When she first heard we were to homeschool my horrified mother-in-law exclaimed "Its not just their education - it's their whole moral upbringing!" Err...yes..exactly! 

I don't want my children to be taught their morals from someone I don't know well. And I certainly don't want their values to be gleaned from a group of equally young and inexperienced children. In homeschooling I can help to guide them and set an example. 

5. Independence

I want my children to know who they are - and to value their own self-worth. And for that I feel they need to be given the space to experiment without condemnation. 

My children have no concept of 'designer labels'. They don't measure people by which trainers they wear. They feel entitled to have their own opinions and to state them. I want my children to have confidence and belief in themselves and a homeschool provides an ideal environment for this. 

6. Socialisation

How can children learn to operate in society when they are not a part of it? 

My children meet everybody - rich, poor, young, old, quiet or loud. Their social spectrum is not confined to 20 children the same age as them. They can converse with all sorts of people. 

Read more about homeschool socialization. 

7. Health

My children glow! Not chained to desks all day, they are out in the sun and are strong from climbing and running. I can keep a check on their diet and make sure they are getting enough water to drink. 

But more importantly they have a joy about life that keeps them stress-free and with a healthy immune system. Isn't that a great reason? 

8. Passion

Remember being passionate about something? Remember when you wanted to learn all you could about it, or work at it for days at a time. 

I think passion is an important part of a life. A passionless existence is a dreary one. But many of us try to squeeze in the things we are passionate about in small chunks of time instead of making them a major part of our lives. One of the benefits of homeschooling is that I can give my children the gift of time to explore their passion. 

9. Creativity and Imagination

I believe we are here to use and enjoy our talents and homeschooling gives me the opportunity to encourage my children to revel in the things that capture their imagination. 

My daughter taught me a huge lesson about creativity which I cover in my article Homeschooling Crafts. 

10. Play

Childhood is a fleeting thing, and I want my children to enjoy it. Homeschooling gives them the time and space to just be. 

I am not saying that we have ALL these benefits of homeschooling ALL the time (boy, would I be insufferable!!) - I am saying that the opportunity for these benefits present themselves when we are homeschooling - and it is up to us to nurture and embrace them. And THAT is why I homeschool. 

5 More Reasons to Homeschool


 



- See more at: http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/benefits-of-homeschooling.html#sthash.Jrh8xZst.dpuf

Some Of My Favorite Homeschooling Sites/Resources

Hello all,

So as I had mentioned in my last post, I found some great resources and sites on Facebook... Here they are!

www.freehomeschooldeals.com

www.TOSmagazine.com (the Old Schoolhouse, this has to be one of my favorites because of all of the inspiring messages that their site administrator sends. They really lift me up!)

www.heartsathomestore.com

www.homeschooltoday.com

www.practicalhomeschooling.com

www.learning4kids.com

www.simplehomeschool.net

www.tinkerlab.com (this one is great for ideas for science experiments)

www.quirkymomma.com (I like this one for little ideas for crafts and meal time ideas. It doesn't necessarily have homeschool/curriculum related information but my family really loves arts and crafts so we use it as a learning tool and I often let this site inspire me :-) )

I'd love to know what sites/resources are your favorite!

Melanie

A New Homeschooling Mom

I have to say that taking on the adventure of homeschooling my twin girls was a little overwhelming at first. I started by seeking out my local homeschooling networks and only found one. When I sent through the email request to become a part of the group I was rejected... REJECTED!!! How does that even happen?  Let's just say that my motivation and enthusiasm decreased tremendously because I started to feel hopeless and alone. No it didn't take a simple rejection to make me feel that way. My family did not approve of my husband and I's decision to homeschool. Our friends mostly recoiled when we mentioned our decision. I was looking for free homeschooling resources and kept coming across pricey resources/materials. Nothing seemed to be helping us feel supported in our decision to homeschool so I stopped the search as my girls were only 3. My husband and I began looking into providing them with an education from a private Christian school but quickly realized that this meant that we would both have to work very long hours to be able to pay at least $10,000 per year to support this endeavour. This also meant that we would barely get to see the kids. So we stopped thinking about it altogether. We needed a break.

We prayed, and prayed and prayed. We felt as though God was calling us to homeschool. There was a very strong pull on my heart, so I began my search for the how to's and for the proper cost efficient resources again. This time I started my search through Facebook knowing full well that all of my friends could see the groups that I was liking. Some people stopped commenting on my posts but I knew that this had to be,

because the proper wholesome education of my children was insanely more important that what others were thinking of me.

It was on Facebook that I found some great resources (and a lot of them FREE!). I also found some great sites that had some inspiring words, scripture verses and stories that kept me feeling very positive about our decision. I also found that there was a very strong community of homeschoolers online!

I am now beginning my journey of homeschooling. My girls just turned 4 and I am now excited and screaming with joy on the inside! I look forward to teaching my little monkeys each day and we have so much fun doing it! I love that I can freely teach my girls about Christ and that I can see their growth both spiritually and in their education daily! I encourage you to keep strong in your conviction to homeschool. I believe that you will find that it is worth every minute of it!!!

My hope is that you will post your inspiring story, or inspiring quote or your resource find here to help keep other homeschooling parents inspired.

Thanks for reading and may God bless you and your family in all that you are doing!


Melanie