Category: Q & A

My Thoughts, Q & A

Post Prompt

Dae-dae

What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

That’s a good question!

When I was a little child I would say it was Christmas. Mostly for the presents and the fact we would gather at my grandparents house for a big family celebration.

Then as a teenager, I would say it’s Halloween. One to annoy my parents and two because of the dark mystery mystic that the holiday draws out. That and the fact I love skulls and the color black 🖤

Now however while I still love Halloween; I am more excited to watch as my kiddos witness and experience each holiday. That is truly a blessing to watch as their eyes light up over gifts at Christmas or wanting to show off how many eggs they got at an Easter Egg Hunt.

Homeschool, My Thoughts, Q & A

Homeschooling

Dae-dae

What topics do you like to discuss?

I love every aspect of homeschooling. Not just the teaching, but planning the year of curriculum, researching the curriculum and then learning with my kiddos. It’s surprises me how much I didn’t know and was never taught in public school. It’s a very eye opening experience that I will cherish always.

Homeschool, Q & A

What Curriculum Should I Use?

Dae-dae

This question is, by far, the toughest one I have gotten since I started homeschooling. There are plenty of different choices out there and sorting through can be somewhat mind-numbing.

I am far from an expert, but the majority of the people I talked to about homeschooling, have piece together their own curriculum (i.e. they use one set of books, sites, or printables for math, a different set from a different source for reading, etc).

My best advice I can give so far is:

1) Keep it simple. Focus on the core subjects and don’t stress yourself if you think things aren’t progressing the way you think it should.

2) Do not attempt to replicate a public school classroom. Tried to my first two months and failed miserably. You don’t have to do that. You get to create this whole thing to fit your family and your children that can be changed at the drop of a hat if needed. Education is all around us. It does NOT have to be a cookie-cutter education, nor should it be.

3) Struggling because the children are behind or you think you’re not doing enough? DON’T! Don’t stress yourself. Seriously, you’ll find a routine that will work for you and your family. The children will progress at their own pace.

Intro, Q & A

Why?

Dae-dae

“Why do people take or keep their children out of school? Mostly for three reasons: they think that raising their children is their business not the government’s; they enjoy being with their children and watching and helping them learn, and don’t want to give that up to others; they want to keep them from being hurt, mentally, physically, and spiritually.”

― John Holt

The last reason and the pandemic is why we started. Now though it’s more of the second reason as to why we are continuing. Though I will eventually give the boys an opportunity to return to public school once we think it’s safe, it will be their decision if they want to return and we’ll go from there. So far all the kiddos want to continue to be homeschooled.