Growing up Mondays have been a hard day for me, especially while in school. After having a great weekend full of fun, or even a nice calm and relaxing weekend, Mondays were the end to all my weekend joy. I know I am not the only one with the "Monday Morning Complex", my facebook TL is littered with complaints and groaning from people going back to work or school on Mondays.
Well I didn't want my little homeschoolers to grow up with the MMC, I wanted them to love Mondays just like they love Fridays (which is pizza and Disney Channel night). So I decided to make it a fun day in school. A way to do work and ease them back into work mode rather than just start up with worksheets and lessons.
As today was the first day I tried this little experiment, and also almost Christmas break, we had an even more relaxed "Awesome Monday". We simply played quite a few rounds of UNO and learned all about our new pet "Snap Snap", the crayfish I found crawling across the driveway this morning.
But my goal is to evolve this day to be a fun way to introduce the lessons of the week. To make a smooth transition from fun filled weekend to school work. However, my whole goal with homeschool is to make learning something that is fun and desired rather than just a neccesity.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Student Teachers
As a homeschooling mom with 3 small homeschooling kids ages ranging between 3-7 most of my time is spent simply trying to balance it between each child. At times I feel that I am spending too much time with one and neglecting the other two. And other times I would like to spend time with one working on a particular topic when the other two begin to whine for my attention and help.
As if homeschooling is not stressful enough, especially for a newbie like myself, this just makes me want to say "shut it down for the day guys, mommy has a headache". Honestly, I have taken a mental health day (or two). Better to take a break than to breakdown.
But lately I have been trying something new, well not really new, but I just thought to try it. While in elementary school myself I was in a split level class when I was in 2nd grade. I do not really remember the point but I am assuming the 2nd graders were supposed to impart knowledge and lead the young ins (1st graders). Well this is what I am trying to alleviate some school day stress.
For example while working with my kindergartner on addition, my 2nd grader will work with my Prek kid on her letters and numbers. There are other times when my 2nd grader will help my kindergartner or the kindergartner will help the PreK.
I try to find activities in the major subjects that they can help each other with. Not only does this help me with my time, but I think it helps the older student by reinforce information they have already learned and it also gives them a sense of responsibility and confidence taking on the "teacher" role.
This might be something that every single home school is doing and has been doing but it's new to me and I thought I'd share!!
As if homeschooling is not stressful enough, especially for a newbie like myself, this just makes me want to say "shut it down for the day guys, mommy has a headache". Honestly, I have taken a mental health day (or two). Better to take a break than to breakdown.
But lately I have been trying something new, well not really new, but I just thought to try it. While in elementary school myself I was in a split level class when I was in 2nd grade. I do not really remember the point but I am assuming the 2nd graders were supposed to impart knowledge and lead the young ins (1st graders). Well this is what I am trying to alleviate some school day stress.
For example while working with my kindergartner on addition, my 2nd grader will work with my Prek kid on her letters and numbers. There are other times when my 2nd grader will help my kindergartner or the kindergartner will help the PreK.
I try to find activities in the major subjects that they can help each other with. Not only does this help me with my time, but I think it helps the older student by reinforce information they have already learned and it also gives them a sense of responsibility and confidence taking on the "teacher" role.
This might be something that every single home school is doing and has been doing but it's new to me and I thought I'd share!!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Calling it Quits
"Calling it Quits".....Not the title you'd expect from a homeschooling parent...... UNLESS you, yourself ARE a homeschooling parent.
So, my family has been homeschooling for about a year now, but this school year I decided to go my own way, shake it up and design my own curriculum (woohoo). I felt that this would be a good idea for more freedom and flexibility. Previously we did one of the online schools and I felt limited in what my child was learning, how fast he could advance, and I also felt like a child because I had to record hours, check in, etc. I'm too much of a rebel for all that (haha).
Well, I guess I should have considered all the work it would take to be that "homeschool rebel parent". I don't have enough free spirit in me to "unschool" but too much to follow one particular homeschool method. So we have been putt-putting along this year, with much trial and error.
Today, I was a little (a lot) behind on my lesson planning and pretty much trying to wing it all while planning activities for later. Combining this with stress and children who thought it would be cool to gang up on each other and fight was a recipe for "exploding mommy" Not only did I explode but I imploded. I went off on the kiddos in the midst of one of their many fights today. Then left the room but not before giving the age old threat of "you just wait until your daddy gets home" (boom....explosion). After a few minutes, I calmed down then immediately began beating myself up over my own behavior (boom...implosion).
I had to go back to the kids and apologize and explain that mommy is just a little tired and overreacted to their behavior.
After this whole ordeal I sat back and thought "why am I doing this to myself"? I could put these kids in school and have the whole day to myself. I could be watching soaps and eating bon bons just like I thought the stay home moms did when I was younger!" Basically I began to question the whole homeschool situation because of a (really) bad day.
But I had to remember that this is new to all of us. My kids are still very young and prone to bad spouts simply because they haven't got the hang of the whole "civilized behavior" thing and me exploding isn't a good example.
Then I went to the last place that should have been the first, I turned to Jesus (this could be a whole other blog by itself). After all He is the one who gave me this crazy homeschool idea in the first place. He began to bring to my remembrance some of the more popular bible stories such as Noah and the Ark and Moses. Now, in no way am I saying that my homeschooling will make an impact on the world like these two stories. HOWEVER, God gave them something to do and it wasn't easy. They struggled, wanted to give up but they pressed on. People didn't understand them or why they were pursuing their various missions, but yet they pushed on. Raising 3 children and homeschooling may not be as difficult as building an ark or freeing a people from an oppressive nation, but maybe it is...... Either way, giving up is so much worse than pressing forth.
But what I think it boils down to is that I am new to the homeschool scene and it will take time to get it right, to get my #homeschoolflow. And because He gave me the idea, and like every other area in a Christian's walk, God needs to be the center of everything we do, especially our struggles.
So even though I am stressed, tired, discouraged at times, I will press forward with this thing, believeing that God is going to do something great in my children through this education at home.
Another day..... another adventure.......
So, my family has been homeschooling for about a year now, but this school year I decided to go my own way, shake it up and design my own curriculum (woohoo). I felt that this would be a good idea for more freedom and flexibility. Previously we did one of the online schools and I felt limited in what my child was learning, how fast he could advance, and I also felt like a child because I had to record hours, check in, etc. I'm too much of a rebel for all that (haha).
Well, I guess I should have considered all the work it would take to be that "homeschool rebel parent". I don't have enough free spirit in me to "unschool" but too much to follow one particular homeschool method. So we have been putt-putting along this year, with much trial and error.
Today, I was a little (a lot) behind on my lesson planning and pretty much trying to wing it all while planning activities for later. Combining this with stress and children who thought it would be cool to gang up on each other and fight was a recipe for "exploding mommy" Not only did I explode but I imploded. I went off on the kiddos in the midst of one of their many fights today. Then left the room but not before giving the age old threat of "you just wait until your daddy gets home" (boom....explosion). After a few minutes, I calmed down then immediately began beating myself up over my own behavior (boom...implosion).
I had to go back to the kids and apologize and explain that mommy is just a little tired and overreacted to their behavior.
After this whole ordeal I sat back and thought "why am I doing this to myself"? I could put these kids in school and have the whole day to myself. I could be watching soaps and eating bon bons just like I thought the stay home moms did when I was younger!" Basically I began to question the whole homeschool situation because of a (really) bad day.
But I had to remember that this is new to all of us. My kids are still very young and prone to bad spouts simply because they haven't got the hang of the whole "civilized behavior" thing and me exploding isn't a good example.
Then I went to the last place that should have been the first, I turned to Jesus (this could be a whole other blog by itself). After all He is the one who gave me this crazy homeschool idea in the first place. He began to bring to my remembrance some of the more popular bible stories such as Noah and the Ark and Moses. Now, in no way am I saying that my homeschooling will make an impact on the world like these two stories. HOWEVER, God gave them something to do and it wasn't easy. They struggled, wanted to give up but they pressed on. People didn't understand them or why they were pursuing their various missions, but yet they pushed on. Raising 3 children and homeschooling may not be as difficult as building an ark or freeing a people from an oppressive nation, but maybe it is...... Either way, giving up is so much worse than pressing forth.
But what I think it boils down to is that I am new to the homeschool scene and it will take time to get it right, to get my #homeschoolflow. And because He gave me the idea, and like every other area in a Christian's walk, God needs to be the center of everything we do, especially our struggles.
So even though I am stressed, tired, discouraged at times, I will press forward with this thing, believeing that God is going to do something great in my children through this education at home.
Another day..... another adventure.......
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