Do you homeschool or school-at-home? What’s the best method? Find what works best for you, and embrace it. Enjoy homeschooling your way!
When I started my homeschool journey eighteen years ago, I was a public school teacher. My son, heading into third grade, had been attending public school, as well. I had many friends who were homeschooling, but it just had not been an option for me until that time.
As we reached the end of the school year {before I started homeschooling}, we learned we would be moving for the third time in three years. We would be moving to a new school for the third time in three years. I was already discouraged with my job. I didn’t like the politics of public school teaching.
I was dissatisfied with Logan’s education, and I knew in my heart that I could do a better job teaching him at home at his pace. So, my husband agreed to let me give it a try – for just one year. 😉
Homeschool Your Way
Unfortunately for Logan, I was still in the public school teacher mindset. Homeschooling that school year (and for the next few) looked very much like “school at home.”
It wasn’t a horrible experience, but it wasn’t as fun as it could have been. I used textbooks for everything. He sat at a desk, and so did I.
I assigned work as I did in my classroom. We tested and graded and filed everything away in his little binder at the end of the day. Then, “school” was done.
[mv_video key=”suusyjzrpshdsm51heou” volume=”70″ aspectRatio=”true” title=”Free Homeschool Websites” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/video/upload/suusyjzrpshdsm51heou.jpg” jsonLd=”true” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” sticky=”false”]Fortunately for us all, Logan actually liked “school.” So, he wasn’t put off by the transition. Workbooks and textbooks were okay for him. It’s what he was used to so he didn’t know any different.
Fortunately for us all {I can say that now since hindsight is 20/20}, that is not at all how Isaac was wired. He needed to move. Sitting at a desk all day was torture for him.
Textbooks were dry and boring and did NOT hold his attention at all! So, it was time for me to do some research. I learned that I didn’t have to recreate school at home.
No matter what college had trained me to think, that was NOT the “right” way to educate every child. It does not work for everyone. There is so much more to learn than what an editor can cram into one textbook. Life isn’t broken up into chapters, and education doesn’t have to be either.
We became big fans of literature-based unit studies. We didn’t throw out all of our textbooks, because I am not wired that way. {Yes, it is important to find a happy medium between what works for your kiddos and what works for you.}
We could read a book, Stone Fox
However, we also had times where they had to sit at their table/desk to do math or grammar from their textbooks. We were able to find a happy medium. It worked for us so it made our homeschool experience a positive one.
So what’s best way to structure your homeschool day? Honestly, whatever fits your family needs is best! If your kids enjoy the structure and layout of traditional school-at-home methods then do it. If, like me, your kids enjoy a blend of “a little bit of a lot of stuff” then do it. If your family enjoys learning with nothing but hands-on learning, living books, and following their delights then do it.
Find what works best for you, and embrace it. Find your happy place and teach from there! You may find that your ‘happy place’ changes from year to year based on the ages and learning styles of your children. The beauty of homeschooling is the ability to adapt to the changes in your family dynamics.
Encouragement for Homeschool Moms
Below, I’ve featured just a handful of books meant to encourage homeschool moms that will help your readers celebrate their favorite characters. You should be able to find them at your local library or bookstore. If you can’t find them locally, you can click each image cover to purchase them on Amazon.
Creating Homeschool Balance – “Creating Homeschool Balance” will help you understand what balance looks like, feels like, and how to create it.
Your Goals This Year – No matter which kind of homeschool parent you are, this book will help you understand the stages of homeschooling high school, put you on the path to success, and keep you from feeling overwhelmed. You can homeschool through high school, and here are the tools to help you.
Scheduling: The Secret to Homeschool Sanity – When you homeschool, it’s important to take time to plan and rest, and not just work, work, work! Using schedules in your homeschool can help you avoid burnout.
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I too was discouraged by the politics of teaching in the school system in my early years. I have homeschooled for 18 years, having homeschooled children in-care before I had children of my own. My oldest is today at a college open-house scouting her future education needs and my youngest is 5 years old still checking out the Lego. I still have a ways to go. 🙂 You’re advice was right on. It doesn’t matter how many children you have, no two are alike. They all have different learning styles and preferences. It’s wonderful they can express their individuality and not be locked in box of singularity. I wouldn’t have traded these years in for anything…mistakes and all. We love learning together! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story. It is true that many feel they need to homeschool a certain way for it to be successful, through trial and error we find our way. It takes time. I love that you shared to do it your way 🙂 Very encouraging.
I’ll be starting my little girl officially this fall with homeschool. I already know that sitting still for extended periods of time won’t work for us. We’re planning 20 minute intervals for sitting subjects.
That sounds like a great plan!
It’s easy to have the public school mind set just because that was all many of us homeschooling moms knew from our own education growing up. For me, I found out I dislike the textbooks and seat work as much as my son does! I just had to let go of worrying about what others thought. That comparison trap is easy to fall into. Great article!
Being able to shape our children’s education is definitely a blessing! Great post 🙂
Thank you for writing this! We are looking at making the leap into the homeschool arena but I’m feeling very unsure of it all. My kids will be in grades 4, 2, and 1 next September with two younger siblings at home. Send some good luck vibes my way!
So funny! I felt like I could have written this post… I too was a teacher; we too turned to homeschooling when my oldest had finished up 2nd grade and my husband also said he’d support my idea for a year and then we could reevaluate. I too tried school at home — to disastrous results that almost landed my kids back in public school by Christmas. Luckily, I had family and friends that homeschooled and they showed me how to follow the kids passions more; let go of the school books and the traditional school mindset. We went to the total opposite side of the pendulum for a while and used no traditional book at all for a bit. Now we fall somewhere in the middle; using books and fun hands on opportunities. I tell all new moms that it takes time to find your footing and figure out what works for you and your child; because you’re right it has to be a blending of both not just what works for the child.
Isn’t it crazy that our education hindered our desire to educate our own kids?
You’ve got this, momma! Just take it one day at a time.
Hey Tara, Daughter of Christ! I really enjoyed this post. We all want to enjoy homeschooling – we want to be able to stop and smell the roses, but somehow that public school mentality creeps back in and we wonder if we are ruining our kids. Thanks so much for putting this momma’s heart at ease with your reassuring words to enjoy it in a way that works for us. Happy to be your neighbor over at Whole Hearted Home. Have a blessed week!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Tiffiney!
It’s great that you found a happy compromise and what works for you! Thanks so much for sharing over at #FridayFrivolity 🙂
I am right there! I feel like this is the first year where I am figuring out my kids, their interests and what they actually need to learn and am happy so far with how it is working! With so many directions to go in, it is so nice to find what works for our family, which will not look the same for everyone. That and just being able to glean and try new ideas has really helped us in so many ways. Being able to stop and do a unit study after a few weeks of really focusing on Math and Language Arts helps us not to be bored! And I love literature based studies, especially with my younger ones, but even just reading good books with my family helps us in so many ways! Thanks for your post!