Only 9:00 AM and already the day is interesting. Hayley ran over and showed me a spider she had caught (it's name is Marty). Then the kids ran off saying now we're going to watch it eat a fly.
A Banner homeschool day.
No really, I think the best days are the ones where my kids are actively engaged in something they are interested in. (Except Media...my Kids will probably exclaim) Yes we all know mom (me) doesn't love kids in front of tv computer, game system for long periods of time.... and tries to limit it. I don't hate media I can envision some of my children in careers involving it. I just don't want it to be the biggest part of their childhood.
That's why Marty the Spider was a good start to the day not an unfortunate one. Well Marty might not feel the same.
Early on in our homeschool lives we all make choices. Will I be an unschooler or a school at home type? Will I use living books, hands on kits or computer curriculum, co-op classes or BJU. I personally would have been a literature based learner. I read and read and read and wanted to read instead of going to school. The first curriculum I chose to try was Sonlight, lots of great books! This learning style didn't fit my children, although I loved the books. Since then I'm pretty sure we've tried a little bit of everything. The best fit for us in younger days was anything hands on and plenty of free time. The best fit for us now seems to be a mix. As the kids have grown their goals, strengths and weaknesses have changed or become more apparent. Our homeschooling is very eclectic with some of it being videos and computer (yep media), some being living books, lots still being hands on, some workbooks, conversation and still plenty of free time.
I find that the best learning always, ALWAYS happens during that free time.
This is a reminder to myself as we head into the middle and high school years with the kids. Never bog them down, never give in to fears. No good ever comes of it when I overload them with work or try to copy a school like routine. They will learn what they need and will be happier doing it if they have time to play, dream and discover even now that they are all big kids.
4 comments:
Excellent post, Jodi. It's all so very true. Follow the lead of your child & don't give in to fears.
Great post, Jodi, particularly encouraging at this time of year when many of us are thinking about next year!
Alright, what happened to the Marty post? Is this it? I just wanted to say: It's a good thing Marty wasn't wandering around RENITA'S house!!!!!!! I think Marty's very fortunate!
Maybe it was not so fortunate for Marty as he (or she as the case may be) seems to have been killed by one of the bugs that was meant to be it's breakfast.
There is a lesson for the kids in there somewhere. LOL
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