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Turning Back The Homeschool Clock

Our homeschool journey has been full of beautiful memories, powerful learning moments, and tons of laughter and love.

I can say with 100% certainty that home education has been the best path for our family. 

We've enjoyed setting our own schedule, pursuing each child's interests, and immersing our children in all things good and beautiful.  Everything we have done has served a purpose - sometimes not one I could immediately see - but ULTIMATELY I know it all works together for good.

In our new Classical Conversations community I have the joy of getting to know moms who are younger than me - moms who are just starting the homeschool journey.

I am in a new phase of homeschool life. As these moms are worrying about teaching children to read and what math program to choose, we are thinking about the SAT, Latin, and Chemistry!  It gives me a fresh perspective and also makes me think about what I would do as a new homeschool mom.

What if I could turn back the homeschool clock? What would I do differently?

Turning Back the Homeschool Clock: 5 Things I Would Do Differently

I know what you are thinking - it never pays to look back - only forward. I agree with you. In the interest of helping readers, however, I do believe self examination can help those who read this blog. 

As I look back I also see my own shortcomings, the grace that was given to me, and how much my whole family has grown in the process.

So this post not only celebrates our homeschool, but also seeks to point out the ways in which we could have changed and/or learned to make things better.

If I could turn back the homeschool clock I would...

 

Start Homeschooling From Day ONE!

It took us way too long to abandon the ideal of public school! I believe this is because the idea of a public education was deeply embedded in our thinking. We were raised in public schools. I worked in public schools.  We were highly invested in them, until we realized that investment didn't pay off for OUR children.

I had actually been homeschooling my children from birth and just didn't realize it.  I should have had the confidence to forge ahead and keep my sweet ones at home. 

What I say to younger moms is this:

You ARE enough.

You don't need a degree to teach your children.

Don't let society tell you they need to be away from you to thrive.

(As it turns out we had some wonderful preschool and early elementary teachers and also learned some hard lessons in school that helped us decide to homeschool. It all worked out -- but I still wish we'd started sooner!)

 

Be Strict About Math From The Beginning

This might sound contrary to just letting our kids be little - and I'm all for making math fun - but math is a subject that requires consistency and discipline from day one. 

It's extremely hard to back pedal in math - in fact... I think it's impossible.

We waffled between Horizons Math, various math workbooks, living math curricula, and math games. As my knowledge of Classical education increased, I realized that math drills every day, coupled with a good math program are what it takes to produce a student who is SOLID in math.

My youngest benefitted from this knowledge. He has used Saxon Math from the start and he is a good math student. We play games with math and read math storybooks, but the core of our math is sitting down and doing a Saxon lesson EXACTLY as it is prescribed in the book.

(You can throw tomatoes at me if you'd like.)

Over the past eight years we have only used Saxon math with my youngest. We have stressed neatness, diligence, showing your work, and a commitment to doing math every single day. 

I wish I would have done this with my oldest. 

(Side note: my oldest loves Mr. D Math and I am so thankful for his online math courses that clearly have created a successful math student! If you're searching for a math solution and your child is older, this is what I recommend.)

 

Read Aloud MORE to Older Kids!

I read aloud a lot when my children were little. 

(I asked them for this post and they agreed on their five favorite books:  Trumpet of the Swan,  Charlie & The Great Glass Elevator,  The Great Turkey Walk, Robin Hood, and the 26 Fairmount Avenue Series.)

When my oldest hit seventh grade, however, and we began a more structured program in Classical Conversations, I didn't think there was enough TIME to read aloud. This was a big mistake. I should have taken the time and continued to read aloud.

Once again, I learned my lesson after this and we now build time into our day (during Morning Time) to read aloud. This is a cherished time in our homeschool. The past couple of weeks we've been reading The Wednesday Wars and it's been SUCH fun! (Honestly, we've been laughing OUT LOUD as we read this book!) 

I'm amazed at how much my children love to be read to, and how much we laugh and joke about the books throughout the week. 

We're creating memories and connections through our read alouds, and this is especially important with our big kids! 

(Our three recent read alouds:)

Include More Art

Art isn't a subject I'm comfortable teaching. We dabbled in simple art here and there, but I could have done a better job with art instruction - and cultivating a love of art in my children.

We spent some time using Art For Kids, Chalk Pastels, and a few fun Ed Emberly Drawing books, but I would have done MORE. I would have sought out art lessons, carved out more time for art.

When the kids were older I discovered a great series of art appreciation books - and I wish we would have spent more time with those. 

Again, I cannot really turn back the clock, but I can suggest these things to YOU! 

 

RELAX.

It sounds so trite - maybe even oversimplified, right?

Relax. 

Who can relax when you have so many children to take care of - children whose education rests on your shoulders - children who need to get into college one day?

As I look back, however, I realize the importance of letting our children be little and staying in our own lane. Our MOST important job is to raise children who love God, love each other, and love to learn. We are raising our children to be confident, independent, and capable of following their own path.

Believe me, if they don't read until second or third grade they will be OK. If they never take a formal "test" until the sixth or seventh grade they will be OK. You will more than make up for any perceived deficiencies with the love, attention, and wonder you are giving them as you homeschool them. 

Play games with them. Read to them. Go on nature walks. Giggle. Bake. 

It's SO worth it.

As I'm getting ready to graduate one I can assure you that God's grace is sufficient and it's so true -- He fills in the gaps.

 

Look at these children - I have the joy and honor of schooling them. I've poured my heart and soul into them and I've loved (almost!) every minute. Homeschool is a GOOD thing. Aren't we lucky?

 

Turning Back the Homeschool Clock: 5 Things I Would Do Differently

If you could turn back the clock, what would you do differently? 

Leave me a comment below - let's support and encourage each other!

Turning Back the Homeschool Clock: 5 Things I Would Do Differently

Let Them Be Little: Cultivating the Wonder in Your Homeschool

When my own children were little, a few wise mamas urged me not to worry about academics.

Being a former public school teacher, this was a FOREIGN concept. Weren't children supposed to read by the first grade? Shouldn't they know all of their times tables by the third grade? Wasn't a timed test of sight words necessary for future success in life? 

Shouldn't all children have generally the same skills by the third grade?

As we abandoned the ideal of public school, my preconceived notions of "what children should know" were left by the wayside, too. 

I began to realize the inherent value of PLAY, EXPLORATION, and WONDER.  (and also the value of staying in your own lane!)

Now, whenever I am in contact with moms of littles, I tell them one thing:   LET THEM BE LITTLE.  

Let them Be Little: Cultivating the Wonder in Your Homeschool

How to Cultivate the Wonder

 

Forget the "Developmental Milestones"

Developmental milestones occur at different times for different children. Don't be bound to what a book or "expert" says your child should be doing. 

You know your child the best and no expert should take the joy out of being with your child.

Please don't get hung up on READING, MULTIPLICATION TABLES, PENCIL GRIPS, and other things like that.  You will know if something is truly a problem, or whether your child might just need a little more time. 

I cannot emphasize this enough!  Society has trained us that all children should conform to certain developmental standards, and it just isn't so. Children ARE NOT standardized.

 

Read Beautiful Literature

We entered so many new worlds through books when my children were small. 

I remember a 5 year old boy crying in the back of the van as we listened to the end of Charlotte's Web - and then again a few years later when Robin Hood died. I recall a little girl immersing herself in the world of Peter Rabbit and The Box Car Children. We gave the animals in our yard names after I read The Burgess Animal Book for Children aloud one breezy week in the fall. 

We adored Paddle to the Sea - which took on so much meaning after a trip we made to Niagara Falls!

Many, many mornings were spent curled up on the sofa reading The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh with my early-bird son, and many fun Five in a Row dinners were prepared as we immersed ourselves in those beautiful books. 

Do you sense a theme here?  

We entered into the world of the book we were reading. We felt the emotions deeply. We engaged in imaginary play, and spent lots of lazy time with our books.

I guess I could have been drilling sight words, but I'm not sorry I spent those years the way I did. 

 

 

Give Them Fine Arts

Exposing children to art and music when they are little not only adds to the fun in their lives (and YOURS!), but it also builds an appreciation of beauty into your children. 

What a gift.

Take them to concerts, plays, musicals, museums, art classes - whatever you can get your hands on. When they are older you won't be able to field trip as often, so do it NOW! 

My children always enjoyed our adventures in Chalk Pastels!  I vividly remember declaring one day "Angry Birds Day" in our house -- the kids woke up in the morning and I cancelled regular school and we did nothing but Angry Birds activities -- including chalk pastel Angry Birds! 

Of course I always included TONS of beautiful music, using SQUILT, too. 

 

Encourage Creativity

This might be hard, especially if you aren't creative yourself. 

It requires a lot of letting go, accepting messes, and thinking outside of the box.

Children live in a beautiful make believe world and are desperate for us to enter it with them. Follow your children. Let them lead.

Let them create with their hands. Sewing, calligraphy, knitting, and other handicrafts are a beautiful investment in time.

Oh, and let's not forget the LEGOS - they inspired so much creativity in one of my children in particular! 

Because I was a slightly obsessive Type A mom (which I now wish I could go back and change!), I needed to have a more controlled approach to creativity (is there such a thing?!).  Notebooking was one way I could ensure my children were learning, but also having the opportunity to demonstrate that learning in a creative way. 

Cultivate Your Own Sense of Beauty & Wonder

My entire attitude towards motherhood, education - and really life - has changed so much since we began homeschooling.

Life is short. If we want to cultivate qualities in our children we must first model them ourselves.

This isn't always easy.

A few books have really helped me in this area:

 

I will say it again:  Your children will grow up. You will wish you had let them be little. You will wish you had cultivated the wonder

It is a change of heart and mind that you will never, ever regret.

Take it from me - a few dear friends encouraged me in this area and I adore the children I have now, and the WONDERful memories we share.

Let Them Be Little: Cultivating the Wonder in Your Homeschool

Good luck -- it's hard keeping our kiddos little in this world.

I know you can do it!

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