Summer break is almost over, it’s time to start a new learning year. There is so much excitement in our house! Because we enjoyed the experience last academic year, we are doing parent-led homeschooling again.
Because the first year was a learning one for me, I am taking this time to review and adjust some things. There are parents who are just starting homeschooling, equally enthusiastic, anxious and overwhelmed at the same time. Let me assist you by sharing how I have been eating this elephant, one bite at a time.
With all the playing and relaxing, my daughter has forgotten some stuff, you know ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’. To bridge the gap, we are currently doing revision of key concepts learnt last year. Basically, we are just doing 10 min of Math and 10 min of spelling. That exercise just reminds her how to write her letters and digits the correct way, no pressure.
We have an almost 5 year-old son (in October) whom we were considering starting as well this year. As luck would have it, there is now funding for these homeschooled kindergarteners. I gave the thought all of 2 min and came back with the verdict, not this year! He will enjoy from the fringes as he has always done because he is not the easiest of people to sit down for schoolwork 😁.
Why am I doing this?
The question that I keep getting is why are you doing this? I need to turn back the question on myself and ask ‘why am I doing this?’ I have gone back to the drawing board during this time as we look forward to starting a new academic year to refocus. Knowing the reasons why we started will give me motivation to continue. ‘I need to be fully persuaded in my own mind 1 ‘ before ‘I can be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks a reason for the hope that is in me, with meekness and fear.’ 2
Being home with the kids can be challenging emotionally. Inasmuch as the schooling is for them, wonder of wonders, it has also been for me. I have gone back to learn the fundamentals of true education: hand, head and heart. At the end of the day, what I want to instill in my children is a love for learning, and to do that for them in a loving and safe environment. That way, they will not only grow academically and physically but also morally and spiritually.
How are we doing it this year?
One of the most important questions to consider during this time as we get into another year is ‘how are we doing it this year?’ Firstly, we registered with the same school board, and then reviewed the curriculum we would use. We enjoyed Math-U-See and will continue with it, and for Science we are using the Sonlight curriculum. For Language arts and Social studies we will use the library and various sources. For Shona, our home language, I will use my imagination and be creative 😊.
Connecting with other homeschoolers really helps. There are a number of Facebook groups close to me. We have found important information on there, such as suggestions of school boards to register with, curriculums to use, field trips to include in our homeschooling etc. Getting to learn how others do it is good for inspiration- we will implement what works for our family.
I downloaded a homeschool planner and the school calendar for the year to get organized. The planner captures essential information on our goals/objectives, subjects to be covered, field trips, meal plan, reading log etc. I am not sure if I will be able to maintain it but I will just aim for the stars and shoot for the moon! Since this is the time to start a new learning year, it would be good to also incorporate good habits, don’t you think?
Footnotes
1 Romans 14:52 1 Peter 3:15
This is good
Very impressive Dr Isabel!